Asia attractions

Just west of the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Jayadev Vatika is a sprawling park that spans 96 acres (39 hectares). Highlights include water features, shaded picnic areas, a playground, and hundreds of types of plants.

A highlight of any visit to Flores, Kelimutu National Park centers on Mt. Kelimutu, a rugged volcano with three vivid crater lakes that look as slick as oil paint. The color of the lakes changes over time with their chemical composition, but often one is turquoise blue, one jade green, and the third deep chocolate, dark green, or black.

Bird lovers don’t need to leave bird-spotting to chance around Mt. Fuji. The Fuji Kachoen Garden Park is a flower garden and aviary that’s home to a number of owl species and other inhabitants. Stroll through greenhouses bursting with begonias and fuchsia, attend a bird show or feeding, and catch views of Mt. Fuji in clear weather.

Just across the border from the Thai city of Mae Sai, Tachileik is a small border town in Myanmar that draws in day-trippers from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai who want to cross into the country to see what it’s about and do a little shopping.

At this large museum in Nanning, learn about the 12 nationalities in Guanxi and ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia and worldwide. Explore the different cultures by examining silver accessories, brocades, and costumes. Check out the ancient copper drums, Qing ceramics, examples of calligraphy, and much more. Some exhibits are indoors, some outdoors, and you can also learn from films.

Tokyo’s Unko Museum has pulled off the near-impossible: it’s made poop cute. Kawaii culture is a big deal in Japan, and the Unko Museum is a whole space dedicated to the more delightful aspects of poop. Less an educational museum and more an Instagrammable delight, you’ll find photogenic spaces, interactive and arcade games, and more, all in inoffensive pastel hues.

Offering fresh forest air and reflecting waters in summer, the Jingyue Lake reservoir turns into a Chinese winter wonderland once the waters freeze over, with ice skating, sleigh rides, snow sculptures, and more. The centerpiece of Jingyue Lake National Forest Park, it’s a great way to get out into nature from Changchun.

Although Prayagraj (Allahabad) is better known these days as a major Hindu pilgrimage city, it has a rich Islamic history. This can be seen in the beautiful Khusro Bagh, a walled garden containing the early 17th-century tombs of Khusro Mirza, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, and others. Anyone who’s seen Agra’s Taj Mahal or Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb will recognize the architectural continuity.

The Hindu Patalpuri Temple stands within—or, rather, beneath—the grounds of the 16th-century Mughal Allahabad Fort, and is one of the only parts of the fort that’s always accessible, as the rest is controlled by the Indian Army. Prayagraj (Allahabad) is a major Hindu pilgrimage destination and the Patalpuri Temple is one of the holiest places in the city.

On the northern outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Nandankanan Zoological Park is among the largest zoos in the country. The zoo is home to all sorts of creatures from India and beyond, including big cats, elephants, primates, and a huge range of birds.

Also known as the Shri Gyanodaya Tirth Kshetra, the Nareli Jain Temple is an important pilgrimage site for members of the Digambar Jain community. As it’s located near the tourist destinations of Ajmer and Pushkar, it’s a popular sight for travelers from all different backgrounds as well.

Built by a Gujarat Sultan to unify rival states through a marriage pact, Delhi Darwaja (Delhi Gate) is the oldest and longest of the gates marking the boundaries of the walled old city of Ahmedabad. It is one of Ahmedabad’s most historic landmarks, which is today typically lined with traffic, street food vendors, and market stalls.

Across the bay from Kansai Airport, Rinku Park is a lovely waterfront park in the city of Izumisano. It’s a popular place to watch the sunset and see planes taking off and landing, and also offers a marble beach, seaside gardens, flower paths, a traditional arched wooden bridge, an inner sea area, and several sculptures.

Watudodol Beach is a black-sand beach on East Java’s coast, north of Banyuwangi. You can see right across to Bali from Watudodol Beach, separated from Java by the Bali Strait. As well as relaxing with a fresh coconut here, you can catch a boat over to tiny Tabuhan Island or Bali’s Menjangan Island to snorkel or dive.

Home to a wealth of trompe l’oeil art, many with a distinctive Penang flavor, the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum offers the chance to photograph quirky poses at 30-plus illusions. You can simulate skydiving, pose with painted pandas or in the jaws of a giant python, or travel back in Penang time by bullock cart, trolley bus, or rowing boat.

On the eastern side of Havelock Island, Govind Nagar Beach draws in a good number of visitors, owing partly to its proximity to the Havelock Jetty. There are lots of restaurants and hotels nearby, as well as dive centers, and the beach’s convenience adds to its appeal.

The Ben Tre Museum is located in one of the city’s most striking buildings, an elegant yellow colonial-era villa beside the Ben Tre River. It houses a collection of items related to local history, especially war-era paraphernalia. It’s an old-school museum with historic artifacts haphazardly displayed throughout. History enthusiasts, as well as photographers, may enjoy visiting.

Like so many of Vietnam’s impressive monuments, the Buon Ma Thuot Victory Monument rests in the center of a six-way roundabout. In fact, it is the roundabout. Surrounded by fountains and manicured greenery, it commemorates Ho Chi Minh’s arduous victory over the South Vietnamese government. It’s a showstopper, combining military presence with a sense of elegance.

Home to Mt. Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon and third highest in the Philippines, this national park rolls across the Philippine Cordilleras. On a clear day, sunrise from the mountaintop offers glorious views of peaks nestled amid a cotton-candy sea of clouds. Mossy forests, complete with streams and waterfalls, fill your senses as you make the climb.

Temples climb terraced hillsides at Vat Phou (Wat Phu), a Khmer Hindu sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some ruins wrapping the central shrine are more than 1,000 years old, and all have sweeping views of the surrounding plains. Within the sanctuary itself are elegant carvings of Hindu gods, semi-divine animals, and dancers.

One of a wave of 3-D galleries that’s taken southeast Asia by storm, Country of Arts 3D Gallery occupies three stories in downtown Ubon Ratchathani. Visit to take a wealth of pictures against backdrops, often utilizing props, for hilarious trick-eye photos.

Nestled at the foot of the mighty Mt. Burangrang, Dusun Bambu (which translates from Indonesian as Bamboo Village) is a leisure complex with plenty of activities. Along with enjoying the lush natural surroundings of the resort, you can fill your day with go-karts, a water coaster, a playground, and electric scooter rides.

Travelers with an interest in Korean pop culture will want to tour Seoul’s MNet Studios. Known for its trendy TV shows, cutting-edge entertainment, and K-Pop energy, the media hub offers an inside look at one of the country’s most popular broadcasting networks.

At the confluence of the Igan and Rajang rivers sits the inland city of Sibu, which serves as the gateway for travelers wishing to explore the longhouses of the Upper Rajang River in the state of Sarawak. One of the city;s most popular attractions is Sibu Central Market—one of the biggest indoor markets in Malaysia—home to thousands of stalls.

Malaysia’s Endau-Rompin National Park is a swath of ancient rainforest in southern Peninsular Malaysia. It contains many waterfalls and is home to wildlife, such as Malayan tigers and the largest remaining population of endangered Sumatran rhinoceros. It’s also home to one of Malaysia’s indigenous groups, the Orang Asli people.

Waduk Bajul Mati, or the Bajulmati Reservoir, is a popular photography and sunset spot. With headlands overlooking meandering blue waterways dotted with islands, the reservoir is sometimes likened to the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua. But at about an hour’s drive from Banyuwangi, where ferries travel between East Java and Bali, Waduk Bajul Mati is somewhat more accessible.

In Aomori Prefecture’s chilly climate, the steaming waters of volcanic Jigokunuma Pond are quite a contrast, especially when surrounded by fiery red and orange fall leaves. “Jigoku” means hell in Japanese, and travelers with a sensitive nose might agree the sulfur fumes make this an unappealing place. However, it’s naturally beautiful, and you can take a dip in the warm waters.

The nine-story Pavilion of Prince Teng was originally built in the Tang dynasty, so it’s seen its fair share of history. Set in Nanchang, the structure is famous for its height, large size, and architectural style, which is actually related to the Song Dynasty. Inside there are bronzes, musical instruments, and other extravagant gifts given to Prince Teng.

One of Bikaner's most recognizable landmarks, Kote Gate is considered the gateway to the Old City and acts as the de facto border between the old and new parts of town. While many visitors simply pass through, it's worth taking your time to check out the architecture of this massive entryway.

Odaiba’s Immersive Fort Tokyo is a theme park with a difference: the 10 attractions in one put visitors in the center of the action. Rather than theme park staples like roller coasters and bumper boats, Immersive Fort Tokyo offers visitors the chance to be at the center of a mafia versus spy agent showdown, dodge enemies in an escape room scenario, and more.