Asia attractions

The Princess Mother is what Thais call Srinagarindra, the mother of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She passed away in 1995, and the Princess Mother Memorial Park was opened in her memory by her son, the king, in 1997. It contains a wealth of information on the influential and well-loved woman, and travelers interested in learning more about Thai history and culture will enjoy visiting.

Located in southern Myanmar, Bago (formerly known as Hanthawaddy or Pegu) was an ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom. It’s known for its numerous Buddhist temples, pagodas, statues, and other ceremonial items, including one of the largest and oldest reclining Buddhas in the world, and the four back-to-back Buddhas guarding the city.

Head to the beachside Pattaya Water Park to cool off from the hot Thai sun. The classic water park features everything you need for a day of fun in the sun, including a lazy river, wading pool for toddlers, water slides, a whirlpool, and private beach access for swimming in the Gulf of Thailand.

From gleaming lanterns to sleek ao dai dresses, the maritime silk trade helped make Hoi An Ancient Town what it is today. The Hoi An Silk Village (Làng Lụa Hội An, part of a resort of the same name, lets you experience that rich culture in a museum, through demos, and hands-on, as artisans take silk from leaf to loom.

One of Mumbai's largest markets, gritty and loud Chor Bazaar is packed to the brim with second-hand items, from old furniture to antique bric-a-brac. Its name translates to "thieves market" and according to a local running joke, anything you lose in Mumbai will eventually make its way here. Rest assured, though: Most of the goods aren't actually stolen.

The highest point in Kota Kinabalu, Signal Hill Observatory Platform, overlooks the sprawling capital of the Malaysian island of Borneo. From the sci-fi-style platform, you can see modern buildings, Likas Bay, and, on a clear day, the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, fringed by turquoise water. It’s also a prime sunset spot.

The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is dedicated to the Hindu Lord Jagganath, an eastern Indian incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It’s a major pilgrimage site and one of the four sites (dhams) in India that devotees believe will lead to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It’s a must-visit destination while in Puri, a city south of Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneshwar.

Situated on the Kobe waterfront on a swathe of reclaimed land, Meriken Park is notable for its numerous art installations and memorializing those who lost their lives in the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. It's home to the Kobe Port Museum and the Kobe Maritime Museum, both noteworthy examples of contemporary architecture.

Soar to new heights on the Skyride chairlift, and then zoom down the Luge at Skyline Luge Singapore—both are part of the worldwide Skyline Luge family of attractions. Enjoy scenic views over Sentosa Island on the way up, and then descend down 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) across four different luge tracks.

An intoxicating blend of street art, clan houses, temples, and stores makes Penang Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) one of the most popular streets in George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage zone. Love Me Like Your Fortune Cat and Ernest Zacharevic’s Little Children on a Bicycle are two of Penang’s most Instagrammed artworks.

One of five locally sacred ghats—steps down to a river—Kedar Ghat is among Varanasi's oldest and most visited ghats. With distinct red and white steps and a picturesque location on the banks of the Ganges River, Kedar is also home to the Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Varanasi.

Sold around the globe, Chalong Bay Rum is Thailand’s best-known rum brand. At the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery in Phuket, travelers can go behind-the-scenes to discover how the facility uses centuries-old French distillation techniques to transform freshly pressed sugarcane into smooth white rum.

In a country rich in traditional crafts and designs, Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA provides a space for the display and celebration of contemporary art. It displays permanent and temporary exhibits, mostly from Thai artists but with some international artists on display too. MOCA is a must-visit for art lovers, and anyone interested in Thai culture, society, and history.

Visit Ashikaga Flower Park to see one of Japan's best displays of purple, blue, white, and pink wisteria (“fuji” in Japanese), which are among Japan’s most beloved flowers. Less than two hours from Tokyo, it's the country's largest wisteria garden with more than 350 of the trees, including one that is more than 100 years old, the branches of which create a huge umbrella of wisteria flowers.

With its dreamy gilded stupa and soaring medieval brick spire, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is the most beautiful temple in Lamphun—and one of the most important temples in northern Thailand. Once part of a royal palace, it houses an ornate library alongside Buddha relics and images and hosts festivals and rituals.

Formerly used to host the receptions and ceremonies of Vientamese emperors, Thai Hoa Palace dates back to 1805 and is notable for its lacquered columns. Plus, due to the palace’s innovative design, if you stand at the exact center of the courtyard you can hear whispers from anywhere in the building.

Karol Bagh is a residential and commercial neighborhood of New Delhi that’s particularly well-known for its markets. One of Delhi’s earliest shopping hubs, today the area is crammed with shops selling everything from inexpensive clothing and cotton yarn to dusty second-hand books and gleaming golden wedding jewelry.

Qinghefang Ancient Street, the best-preserved historical street in Hangzhou, stretches 1,575 feet (480 meters). East of West Lake, it’s a great place to shop, dine, and appreciate classical architecture. A number of buildings are from the Ming (1380–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, and some of the shops date back hundreds of years.

One of nine classical Chinese gardens in Suzhou that share a UNESCO World Heritage listing, the Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin) takes its name from its fantastical rock formations, which many believe resemble dancing lions. With its tranquil pavilions, and tangled webs of pines, cypress, and rock, it feels like a sacred mountain.

Built between 1868 and 1927 to serve as Sarawak’s center of government, Kuching Old Court House is a heritage complex of low buildings set around a central courtyard. It’s home to the Ranee Museum, tourist information offices, events and live music venues, plus several eateries: it’s officially known as the Sarawak Tourism Complex.

Built in 1874 for Jayajirao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, the 400-room, European-inspired Jai Vilas Palace (Jai Vilas Mahal) epitomizes the opulence of India’s one-time princely rulers. Around 40 rooms of this magnificent palace are open to visitors, with the Scindia dynasty’s descendants still occupying other parts of the house.

Situated in the Himalayan foothills above McLeod Ganj, Triund is a popular trekking destination for day hikers and overnight backpackers alike. Those who make the ascent 4–5 hours uphill are rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding forest and the peaks of the Dhauladhar range.

Temple of the Protruding Buddha (Wat Phra Thong) is most famous for the half-buried golden Buddha statue—only the head and shoulders are visible—found on its grounds. The temple, believed to be one of the island’s oldest, holds special significance to the local Thai-Chinese population, who often visit during the Chinese New Year.

In a city dotted with golden Buddhist temples, Bangkok’s Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple is a colorful exception. It was founded in 1827 by Tamil immigrants from South India, and these days it’s the heart of the city’s Hindu community. Visit the temple to experience a different side of Bangkok’s religion and culture.

Modeled after the oldest and largest Confucius temple in the philosopher’s hometown in Shandong, China, the Taipei Confucius Temple displays all the characteristics of traditional Chinese temple architecture. The temple as it stands today was erected in 1930, though it briefly served as a Shinto shrine during World War II.

Nathan Road, one of Kowloon’s main thoroughfares, runs in a south-north direction from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. It’s a shopper’s paradise, where you can find everything from large malls to designer boutiques to electronics shops, as well as extensive dining, entertainment, and nightlife options.

Sarawak’s oldest national park, Bako National Park packs a lot of action into just 10 square miles (27 square kilometers) of land. Seven different ecosystems, including rain forest and mangroves, are home to wildlife from long-nosed proboscis monkeys to orchids, carnivorous pitcher plants, bearded pigs, and mudskippers (“walking” fish).

Despite its lavish mosques and jungle-rich surrounds, Brunei is one of the least-visited countries in the world. The Royal Regalia Museum in the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan is dedicated to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has reigned over Brunei for more than five decades, and serves as a visual representation of the immense wealth of the sultanate.

Tracing Toyota’s manufacturing history from textiles to automobiles and beyond, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology offers visitors a blend of history and science lessons. Exhibitions tell the story of Kiichiro Toyoda, Toyota’s founder, and the growth of this industrial titan through a blend of visual demonstrations and exhibits. The museum’s classic car pavilion is not to be missed by motor enthusiasts.

Bangkok is a huge, congested city, but using the Skytrain makes getting around a breeze. Also called the BTS, it comprises two Skytrain lines that connect many points of interest throughout the Thai capital. Plus it’s air conditioned, clean, and affordable. Visitors to Bangkok would be well-served to travel by Skytrain at some point during their stay, if not making it a main means of transportation.