Things to Do in Asia

The spectacularly ornamented Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand. Located within the Grand Palace in Bangkok’s Old City, a site highlight is a sacred pre–15th-century statue of the Buddha in a seated meditation pose carved from a single block of jade.

As one of Bangkok’s biggest tourist attractions, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is included in numerous sightseeing tours. Most tours include a guided visit of the Bangkok Grand Palace, as well as options to combine the temple with a River of Kings canal cruise or a visit to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market or Bangkok’s largest flower market. If you’re based in Hua Hin, you can see the temple and other city highlights on a day trip to Bangkok.

To reach the Emerald Buddha Temple, take the Silom Line to Saphan Taksin Station and leave through exit 2. From there, take a boat taxi to the Tha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace main entrance.

To avoid the biggest crowds, plan to visit first thing in the morning or after lunch, when most tour buses have departed. Sometimes the temple closes to the public when the Grand Palace is being used for state functions.

Pay attention to the robes draped over the 26-inch (66-centimeter) Emerald Buddha perched high up on its gilded shrine. At the beginning of each season, the king changes the monastic robes to suit the season: hot, rainy, or cool.

Easily one of Bangkok’s most visually striking landmarks, the Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun) towers over the Chao Phraya River. Its colorfully decorated spires are the star features—the temple’s central prang stands 260 feet (79 meters) tall and is intricately decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and Chinese porcelain. 

Named for the Hindu god Aruna who is said to emulate the rising sun, this Buddhist temple was built in the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, an ancient Siamese city-state. It’s now one of Thailand’s top landmarks, attracting visitors who come to wander the complex and its interior and those who clamber up the steep steps to enjoy unparalleled vistas of Bangkok’s skyline and the winding Chao Phraya River.

With its location on the river’s western bank, Wat Arun is best enjoyed from a canal cruise. Opt for a half-day longtail boat tour to see the temple along with top Bangkok attractions such as Chinatown, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho). To see Temple of the Dawn lit up with the sunset’s golden glow, choose a dinner cruise; to view the temple from land, join a bike or tuk-tuk tour of the city. 

 

The Temple of Dawn is located on the Chao Phraya River’s west bank, across from the Grand Palace. The easiest way to reach the temple is by water taxi from Tha Tien Pier, near Wat Pho. By road from the city center, head to the west side of the Chao Phraya River by way of the Phra Pin-klao Bridge, then follow the waterway south on Arum Amarin Road.

 

It’s possible to see the temple at dawn, but the central prang and wider temple complex typically opens at 8:30am. Opt for a sunrise visit to explore the exterior and beat the crowds (and the heat).

 

Exploring the Temple’s Interior Spaces          

While the temple’s intricate exterior details are an obvious draw, its interior is also full of wonder. Don’t miss the incense-scented Ordination Hall and its prominently seated golden Buddha, the towering mosaic-lined chambers of the secluded Prayer Hall, or the human-sized Buddha’s footprint.

Home to the world's largest gold Buddha statue, the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit) is a prominent stop on Bangkok’s temple trail. Measuring nine feet (three meters) tall and weighing more than five tons (4,535 kilograms), the Buddha attracts floods of visitors who come to marvel at its size and gleaming golden surface.

Visits to the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit) are most often included on Bangkok temple tours that also stop at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace and the reclining Buddha statue at Wat Pho. Tours typically run about a half day, but full-day itineraries may also take you sightseeing in Bangkok or beyond, with explorations of floating markets and night markets, or a tuk-tuk or canal ride. Some tours include lunch in nearby Chinatown. See the temple as part of a private or small-group tour for more individualized commentary from the guide.

Located on Traimit Road at the end of Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit) is best reached from nearby Hua Lamphong Station, the main railway station in Bangkok. However, the easiest way to visit is with a guided tour that includes round-trip transportation from your hotel. 

Due to the remarkable architecture and Golden Buddha statue, Wat Traimit is a popular attraction year-round, so booking your tour early is recommended. It’s best to arrive in the morning to beat the crowds as well as the potential for afternoon heat or rain.

The centuries-old Golden Buddha, seated in a peaceful lotus position, is made of solid gold. Once hidden from invading Burmese armies by a covering of plaster, its gold cast wasn’t discovered until the 1950s. Pieces of the plaster that once formed its disguise can now be found in a display case at the onsite museum.

The Basics
The gigantic golden Buddha statue is the largest in Thailand, measuring 151 feet (46 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) tall. The Buddha's feet alone are 16 feet (five meters) tall, both exquisitely decorated and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A walk along the length of the entire statue is a treat in and of itself, but visitors would be remiss if they didn't enter the temple and explore the whole Wat Pho compound, which is full of artwork and Buddha images. The oldest temple in Thailand, the complex also remains a hub of knowledge for traditional Thai medicine and Thai massage, and travelers can even book a massage appointment here.

A key Bangkok attraction, the temple is included in most city and temple tours of the capital, frequently grouped with visits to Bangkok temples such as Wat Arun, Wat Traimit (home to a solid gold Buddha statue), the Gem Gallery, and Chinatown, among other combinations for half-day tours. For a memorable way to visit this and other important sights in the city, join a tour guide for a sunset or night bike tour; hop on a tuk tuk for a fun-filled sightseeing adventure; or board a longtail boat to arrive via the Chao Phraya River.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The temple is most often visited on half-day sightseeing tours of Bangkok.
  
• The site is not easily accessed by wheelchair.
  
• Dress conservatively—visitors shouldn't wear shorts or low-cut tops, and women must cover their arms.
  

How to Get to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha
The sprawling grounds of Wat Pho have two walled compounds divided by Soi Chetuphon. The reclining Buddha and famous Thai massage school can be found on the northern side, while the temple's monastic facilities are located in the southern compound. The easiest way to access the temple is by boat: take the Chao Phraya River Express to the Tha Thien pier. The temple is located next to the Grand Palace and behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew).

Visit during the morning or evening to beat the heat and crowds of the middle of the day.

Taroko Gorge National Park, Taiwan’s foremost tourist draw, encompasses an incredible range of landscapes: imagine Sumatra snuggling up to Sweden and you get some idea of the variety. Among the park’s unforgettable sights are the looming Qingshui Cliff on the Pacific coast, the twisting vistas of the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and the dramatic hanging bridges of Swallow Grotto. The few buildings here make the most of the topography, particularly the Eternal Springs Shrine which hugs a lush green hillside next to its namesake springs.

Taroko Gorge National Park is one of Taiwan’s most spectacular natural attractions; it also ranks among the most popular. Most travelers make their way here on a day trip from Taipei or nearby Hualien City on Taiwan’s east coast. Multi-day tours of the island often include the gorge, as well as sights like Sun Moon Lake, Kaohsiung, Taitung, and the East Coast National Scenic Area.

Due to the relative difficulty in reaching the national park with public transportation, many people choose to visit on a guided group or private tour. The nearest major city to the park is Hualien, where buses depart daily for various points inside the gorge. From Sincheng, the nearest train station to the park, visitors can take a taxi to the park.

Due to the gorge’s popularity among tourists, it’s a good idea to arrive early in the morning to enjoy the park before the big tour groups begin to arrive. Expect temperatures upwards of 80°F (26°C) and high humidity during summer (June to September). June, August, and September tend to be the rainiest months in the park.

Among the park’s numerous hiking trails, the Zhuilu Old Trail is the most famous. Carved into the cliffside some 2,000 feet above the Swallow Grotto, the narrow hunting path offers an adrenaline rush—it lacks a guardrail and is a mere three feet (one meter) wide in places. If you want to cross this off your bucket list, book ahead, as a limited number of permits are issued a day.

The Taukkyan War Cemetery is a memorial in honor of allied soldiers, most of whom died during the Second World War in Burma. Altogether, there are 6374 graves of fallen soldiers from this aforementioned war, hundreds of them unidentified. Inscribed on the many pillars of the Rangoon Memorial are an additional 27,000 names of men of the Commonwealth forces who died during battles in Burma, but had no known grave. Because it was a multinational force with over a hundred different languages spoken within the platoons, the words “they died for all free men” are added in English, Burmese, Hindi, Urdu and Gurmukhi. Some burials were also transferred from other battlefield locations as well as isolated and scattered jungle sites when the graves couldn’t be maintained any longer. Fittingly, to commemorate these individual battles and the soldiers who fought and died there together, the graves at the Taukkyan War Cemetery are grouped together according to regiments, countries and these battlefields in Meiktila, Akyab, Mandalay and Sahmaw.

The cemetery is a very peaceful place and well maintained by the many gardeners caring for the graves and the plants. But despite its beautifully landscaped grounds and its popularity with history buffs, the memorial is a sad place. Many people travel here on a personal pilgrimage to pay their respects to a loved one and often, you can see them taking off their shoes, as is the custom in Myanmar. When walking through the neat row of tombstones and flowers, reading the sheer mass of names and commemorations of soldiers from Australia, India, Africa, England and Burma, the heat and the noise of Myanmar seems to fade far away. 

The Teddy Bear Museum in Seogwipo features several galleries and an extensive gift shop dedicated to stuffed bears from around the world. The museum also contains the world’s smallest teddy bear, which measures just 4.5 millimeters.

Within the museum, you’ll find the History Hall, the Art Hall and the Project Exhibition Hall. The History Hall explores the 100­year history of teddy bears, with various bears from different eras, antique bears, and famous scenes and artwork recreated with teddy bears. The latter includes the Mona Lisa bear and the teddy bears of The Last Supper. The Art Hall features modern artwork by international designers, as well as a number of bear animations. In the Project Exhibit Hall, the collection extends to teddy bears grouped into a number of different themes.

The museum also has a cafe, plus a bar for adults that’s only open in the summer months. Outside in the museum garden, which is adorned with teddy bear sculptures, there are some fantastic views of the coastal landscape of Jeju Island.

Few truly historic buildings exist in Vietnam, which makes the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) extra special. First built as a Confucian temple in 1070 AD, it became Vietnam’s first university (Quoc Tu Giam) and operated as one for more than 700 years. Between ponds, gardens, and tranquil courtyards, it’s a haven in the heart of the Hanoi

The Temple of Literature is a surprisingly long and far from scenic walk from Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where many hotels cluster, so many visitors choose to travel by taxi or as part of a Hanoi day tour.

One of the city’s key highlights, the Temple of Literature is a common stop on Hanoi city tours, be they by motorbike, cyclo, or minibus. Don’t expect to cover all five courtyards and learn about the principles of Confucianism and Vietnamese education on a multi-stop tour; if you’re interested in the cultural history, a private tour may be your best bet.

The Temple of Literature is well over a mile (1.5 kilometers) from Hanoi Old Quarter and the walk is far from scenic. You can travel by bus (route) numbers 02, 03, and 41), hail a taxi—or motorbike taxi—on services such as Grab, or haggle with a cyclo driver. Save time and energy by visiting as part of a Hanoi city tour with a guide.

The Temple of Literature can get busy over Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, and is a popular weekend destination for Hanoians year-round. It closes on Mondays and during the middle of the day; visit on a midweek morning or afternoon. During the exam season (roughly March until early July), students pray at the altars—for good grades, of course. 

Since ancient times, the humble turtle has been a symbol of Vietnam; out of four sacred animals (the dragon, the phoenix, the unicorn, and the turtle), it’s the only one that really exists. While the sacred turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake has passed away, turtles still hold up the commemorative stelae in Hanoi’s Temple of Literature. That’s why students touch turtles’ heads in an effort to get good grades. 

Located in Chinatown in the Central Business District in Singapore, Telok Ayer has a two-fold significance. It’s both the name of the area that Sir Stamford Raffles set aside for Chinese immigrants when the British ruled Singapore and it was also one of the first streets in this area. Fast-forward 150 years and it’s now a bustling tourist destination. Walking down Telok Ayer gives you a chance to glimpse into the past, as many of the building have been conserved and restored. The shophouses that you see appear much as they did in the 1800s, showing what life was like in this waterfront area. However, there are plenty of modern amenities, too, including quirky shops, cafes and plenty of places to dine. 

The other draw to Telok Ayer is the many places of worship that you’ll find in close proximity to one another. Hokkien temples are located near mosques and shrines as well as a Methodist church. Grateful immigrants who wanted to thank their gods for a safe journey built most of these locations. While there are many examples to visit, some of the most interesting include: Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest Hokkien temple in Singapore, Nagore Durgha Shrine and Al-Abrar Mosque. Keep an eye out for heritage markers or explore one of the many museums in the area to learn more about this rich and diverse history.

Built by the Yongle Emperor, the Ming Dynasty builder of the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven (Tian tan) was a stage for important rituals performed by the emperor, or Son of Heaven. Chief among these were supplication to the heavens for a good harvest and the winter solstice ceremony, meant to ensure a favorable new year. 

The temple buildings are rich in symbolic detail, including variations on the number nine, which represents the emperor; colored glazes that signify heaven and earth; and pillars that represent the months of the year, seasons, and time. There are also echo stones where you can stand to hear your voice reverberate and a circular echo wall that carries your whisper to the far side of the circle. 

The UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven ranks among Beijing’s most famous attractions and features on many city tours, along with the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Tiananmen Square; some tours include the Great Wall of China. Those with a particular interest in the temple’s history can opt for a private tour to hear more about its rich spiritual symbolism. It’s also possible to combine a temple visit with a tai chi class in the surrounding park. 

The Temple of Heaven is located in the southern part of central Beijing. You can reach the temple on one of several public buses, or take subway Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen.

The Temple of Heaven is open daily, but one of the best times to visit is early in the morning when locals show up to practice tai chi, sword fighting, or traditional Chinese dance. Later in the day, you’ll see groups of elderly Beijingers playing chess or cards in the shade of the park’s long corridor.

The area near Temple of Heaven park is packed with other worthwhile attractions. The Beijing Museum of Natural History is situated near the temple’s west gate, while the Hongqiao Pearl Market is just across the road from Tiantan Dongmen subway station. Taoranting Park, the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, and the Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park are also within easy walking distance.

Not far from Ubud, Tegenungan Waterfall foams in a white cascade over black stone cliffs into a quiet pool. At around 66 feet (20 meters) high, it’s an impressive flow, and that’s not all the site has to offer. Besides climbable cliffs, a secret smaller waterfall, and simple food stalls, a charming grotto houses a sacred spring.

Tegenungan Waterfall is a pleasant place to spend a hot, dry Balinese day swimming, climbing to the top of the falls, or just hanging out. Tegenungan features on many tours of Bali’s natural attractions, alongside sights such as Tegalalang Rice Terraces, as well as general cultural tours around Ubud. Tours typically take you up the waterfall steps, leave time for a swim, introduce you to the sacred spring, and perhaps include a dip in the Tukad Petanu River.

The Tegenungan falls are about 7 miles (10 kilometers) south of Ubud. You can reach them from either Tegenungan village (at the base) or Blangsinga village (at the top). As there is no public transportation, your best options are to pay a private driver or join an organized tour.

While many waterfalls are best visited during the rainy season when water levels are high, Tegenungan is at its most attractive during the dry season, when the towering cascade flows down white, not chocolate brown. Generally speaking, Bali’s dry season runs from April until the end of September. Come early in the day to beat the big groups.

Indonesia is currently experiencing a small epidemic of selfie-related fatalities, while visitors have tumbled to their deaths from waterfalls in pursuit of the perfect Instagram. Tegenungan Waterfall has seen at least one selfie death in recent years. Exercise extreme caution when taking selfies high on the cliffs or atop the waterfall itself.

Officially called Galtaji but usually referred to as Temple of the Sun God or simply the Monkey Temple, this temple complex of many names was built in the 18th century. Multiple storied water tanks, known as kunds, lead up to the main temple, with rounded roofs and pavilions typical to Rajasthan’s architectural traditions.

 

This gorgeous temple complex, in a crevice sandwiched between two hills, features a series of water tanks—the Galta kunds—filled with natural spring water and used for ritual bathing by devotees. At the top of the complex, built by Diwan Rao Kriparam, is a pink stone temple dedicated to Surya, the sun god—hence it’s Temple of the Sun God moniker—not the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, as its alternative name suggests. Its Monkey Temple nickname is due to the large presence of monkeys that hang out here.

 

 

Galtaji is located east of Jaipur, about a 30-minute drive from the Hawa Mahal. Getting here involves a zig-zagging ride uphill, and while you can hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw to take you here and back, it’s easiest to come as part of an organized tour.

 

The Money Temple is open throughout the year, though it can get oppressively hot during the hotter months of the year, particularly in late afternoon. The most auspicious time to visit is during the annual Makar Sankranti holiday, in mid-January, when pilgrims arrive en masse.

 

Makar Sankranti, sometimes called Maghi, is an annual festival dedicated to Surya, the sun god. Celebrations vary in different parts of the country, but traditional activities associated with the event include flying kites, ritual bathing, exchanging gifts and sweets, and a variety of religious ceremonies.

The stunning Tegalalang Rice Terrace, part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprises cascading emerald-green fields worked by local rice farmers. Just outside Ubud, it has become a destination for travelers making their way between Bali’s sandy beaches, towering mountains, and steaming volcanoes.

The Tegalalang Rice Terrace, an agricultural icon on the cliffs of a traditional Balinese village, make for an ideal place to spend a morning or afternoon absorbing the natural peace of remote island life. Many guided day tours from Ubud include a visit to the rice terrace along with stops at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Palace, Balinese temples, the Ubud craft villages, Sekumpul Waterfall, a coffee plantation, or the active volcanic landscape of Kintamani.

If not visiting the terraces with a tour guide, one of the best ways to get there is by scooter. It is about a 25-minute drive from Ubud, and parking can be found right on the edge of the fields.

If you want to snap some photos of the rice paddies without other visitors getting in the way, plan to visit first thing in the morning. The terraces are often at their most beautiful just after planting, when the small green shoots are just emerging from the glassy pools.

Near Tegalalang you will find a small café and several souvenir shops, including villagers selling hats made from woven coconut leaves. You can purchase wooden carvings from the nearby village of Pakudui.

Located within the royal palace complex of Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic. In the heart of the temple, within a two-story shrine fronted by elephant tusks sits what devotees believe to be the left upper canine tooth of the Buddha, supposedly taken from his body before cremation. The Temple of the Tooth was built between 1687 and 1707 to house the relic.

While the tooth stays hidden within a gold casket, visitors and devotees still flock to the temple during puja for a glimpse at the heavily guarded inner shrine where it is kept. Also of interest is the International Buddhist Museum, housed on the temple grounds, where visitors can learn about the history and expansion of the religion throughout Asia and the world.

Once each year during the Esala Perahera procession, the relic casket gets paraded through the streets atop a male elephant. The 10-day festival is one of the largest Buddhist festivals in the world and the most important in Sri Lanka.

Of Beijing’s royal altars left over from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this is the last remaining temple dedicated to the God of Earth. (The Temple of Heaven is a popular stop on many day tours of Beijing.) The altar is based in Ditan Park, which these days is a public space that’s open all year round with a small entrance fee.

Autumn’s changing colors, when the park’s many ginkgo trees turn golden, makes this a popular time of year to visit Ditan Park, although the open spaces and tree-lined pathways make for a pleasant visit at any time of the year. Traditional Chinese pagodas and archways are also dotted throughout the park.

The annual Chinese Spring Festival held at Ditan Park is incredibly popular, attracting huge crowds to its large temple fair, with traditional performances and plenty of vendors providing food and entertainment.

Insider’s Tip: The best time to visit Ditan Park is in the early morning, when you’ll be greeted by locals dancing or practicing tai chi. Take a stroll using the circular path around the park’s four main gates so that you can explore the entire area.