Asia attractions

The sounds of prayers and chanting Buddhist monks fills 15th-century Wat Ounalom, a religious complex near Phnom Penh’s Tonle Sap River. It’s considered the center of Cambodian Buddhism, but the temple’s not just for religious pilgrims. Here, visitors can find beautiful images of the Buddha, explore historic architecture, and more.

Step back in time and see how upper-class Filipinos lived during the colonial era at Casa Manila, a beautifully reconstructed traditional Spanish colonial home within the walls of Intramuros, in the heart of Manila. Casa Manila is filled with period furniture, furnishings, decorative objects, and artwork from the colonial era.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum chronicles the development of Japan’s capital city, from its early days as a sleepy fishing village through the years of expansion and foreign trade wars to its transformation into a major metropolis. The museum building itself also draws visitors as a fine example of postmodern architecture.

Reigning supreme from the center of Penang Island, Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera Pulau Pinang) offers travelers much more than panoramic views. Ride up in a century-old funicular, or take a hike, keeping an eye out for grey macaques and elusive dusky leaf monkeys. At the top, you’ll find a Hindu temple, an owl museum, and even an earthquake and typhoon pavilion.

Ao Nang beach sits along the edge of the town of Ao Nang, Krabi’s main tourist hub. Fine sand, clear waters, beautiful views, and cluster of bustling bars and restaurants make the beach a popular spot to spend a day relaxing in the sun or swimming in the Andaman Sea.

A limestone peak behind the western shore of Hangzhou’s West Lake, Feilai Peak (Feilai Feng) stands out from the gentler slopes around it—so much so that its name, which means Peak Flying From Afar, commemorates the belief that it magically appeared from India. It’s home to over 500 Buddhist carvings, dating from the 10th to the 14th centuries.

One of Xi'an’s newest attractions, the Xian Museum, stands nearby one of its oldest, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built around 707. The 15-tiered stone structure has witnessed centuries of history—a history on display in its neighboring museum through a collection of archaeological pieces, jade ornaments, calligraphy, and Buddhist art.

Surrounded by the backwaters of the Arabian Sea, Mattancherry is an old port area of Kochi, not far from Ernakulam Town. The area was once the main trade port for spices such as pepper and turmeric, as well as tea. Today, it’s a bustling and cosmopolitan community that welcomes people from all religious backgrounds and walks of life.

Located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the five-story-deep Adalaj Stepwell is considered a masterpiece of West Indian temple architecture and engineering. Like other stepwells found across the subcontinent, it was constructed as a means to collect and harvest monsoon rainwater for residents to use during dry times of the year.

Officially known as the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir, this temple was originally built back in 1801. It's one of the wealthiest temples in Mumbai, and it’s not uncommon to hear of Bollywood stars stopping to pray here. The temple also houses a shrine to Hanuman with an idol that was unearthed during a local road extension project.

Kirtipur is one of several ancient kingdoms in the Kathmandu Valley that were once independent, but now make up part of greater Kathmandu. It’s a prime destination to learn about the Newar people, who are one of Nepal’s many distinct ethnic groups and the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. Come to Kirtipur for exquisite architecture, hilltop temples, and sweeping city views.

Located in Diamond Hill, the beautiful Nan Lian Gardens offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Built in the style of a traditional Tang Dynasty garden, Nan Lian Garden offers lush greenery, ornamental rocks, ponds, bridges, waterfalls, and pavilions, all set against a backdrop of mountains and skyscrapers.

Bac Ha Market, the largest market in Vietnam’s northern highlands, is reason enough to spend a weekend in this off-the-grid town. Roughly 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Sapa and near the Chinese border, Hmong women enliven the streets with their wares—it’s an entirely different cultural experience than you’ll find in Saigon or Hanoi. Just make sure you come on Sunday, and bring your haggling skills.

One of north Bali’s most striking waterfalls, Aling-Aling tumbles around 98 feet (30 meters) down a cliff in a twin stream. Aling-Aling is sacred, so it’s forbidden to swimming in the pool, but around it several smaller waterfalls offer adventurers cliff jumps and natural slides. These include Kembar, Kroya, and Pucuk.

Since its construction in 1910, the Hong Kong Clock Tower has become one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The area in front of the tower, which was built to commemorate the railway line between Kowloon and mainland China, has become a popular hangout among locals, making it a great spot for people watching.

Ahmedabad’s Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati is a fascinating destination for Indian history enthusiasts and anyone interested in spirituality and concepts of nonviolence. The Indian freedom fighter was from Gujarat and spent many years living at the ashram with his wife. Now, visitors can stroll through the grounds, browse the museum, or even do historical research in the archives located here.

About 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Manila, a visit to the 33-foot-high (10-meter-high) Pagsanjan (Magdapio) Falls delivers an epic thrill ride. First, paddle upstream in a small boat. Then ride a bamboo raft under the cascade itself into Devil’s Cave. Finally, race down the jungled gorge through a series of adrenaline-pumping rapids.

Miyajima Island (officially named Itsukushima) has been a Shinto holy place for centuries and is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For travelers, this island off the coast of Hiroshima is best known for the red torii gate rising from the water off the shrine’s shore. However, it’s also home to many other shrines and temples among its forests of maple and cherry trees, as well as plenty of tasty local snacks and oysters.

The 19th-century Banke Bihari Temple (Banke Bihari Mandir)—one of India’s most famous temples—in Vrindavan houses an idol of Lord Krishna that devotees believe will cause them to faint if they look into its eyes. As such, the idol is kept behind a curtain that’s swiftly opened and closed, allowing worshipers to catch quick glimpses of the god safely.

Located in the silk capital of China, the Suzhou Silk Museum covers several thousand years of silk culture and development. The contemporary building houses galleries that showcase different aspects of silk and sericulture, including silkworm breeding, weaving, production, technology, trade, and examples of silk textiles, fashion, and products.

Kasuga Taisha (Kasuga Grand Shrine dates back to the year 768, when its construction was ordered by Emperor Shotoku (though it has been rebuilt several times since. This celebrated Shinto shrine complex is most famous for the series of giant stone lanterns that line the paths through Nara Park leading toward its entrance.

While Bangkok is full of temples that are worthy of a visitor’s time, few people head over to the Thonburi (west side of the Chao Phraya River, where Wat Kalayanamit is located. The large temple stands out on the skyline and it’s also unusual for having Chinese influences. Travelers who have seen the major sights of Bangkok and are looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience will enjoy visiting Wat Kalayanamit.

Located southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, close to where the Saigon River meets the South China Sea, the low-lying Can Gio island houses a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is an important natural wetland with attractions like Monkey Island, Rung Sac Military Base, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Center, and a crocodile farm.

Mathura is a holy town located about 30 miles north of the Taj Mahal city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It's a hub of religious activity, owing to the fact that the Hindu god Krishna was allegedly born here, and most visitors to the city are devout Hindus or tourists stopping by on their way between Delhi and Agra.

Even though it's just a short boat ride from the resort city of Nha Trang, Hon Mieu Island feels a million miles away. Along with its white-sand beaches and seafood restaurants, its biggest claim to fame is Tri Nguyen Aquarium, a unique boat-shaped building that houses giant shrimp, sharks, and turtles.

The oval-shaped National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA is made from thousands of titanium plates combined with sheets of glass. Surrounded by an artificial lake, the structure looks like a giant egg floating on the water when viewed from afar. Opera, concert, and theater halls host national and international performances.

Travelers interested in Thai history and culture shouldn’t miss the Bangkok National Museum. Housed in the 18th-century Wang Na Palace, with its ornately decorated buildings, the museum is as beautiful as it is educational. There’s information in English, as well as guided tours in multiple languages.

Lined with traditional buildings and houses from the Edo period, Sannomachi Street preserves centuries of Japanese culture. This popular walking street is located at the southern end of the Old Town of Takayama, known for its shops, restaurants, street-food stalls, and sake breweries.

Part of the tiny Poday archipelago off the coast of Krabi, Poda Island (Koh Poda) ranks among the most pristine of the islands that line the coast. Dramatic limestone formations are visible from the white sands of the beach and a nearby coral reef provides excellent snorkeling.

Housed in an old French colonial building outside Nha Trang’s city center, the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam charts the history, science, and technology associated with marine life, with exhibits focusing on things like algae and phytoplankton, the history of fishing in Vietnam, and natural disasters at sea and around the coast.