Experiences labelled with 'Temple'
The ruins of Chichén Itzá take you back in time to an era of a vast and powerful Mayan empire, once the center of being for all of the Yucutan civilization ruling over politics, religion, and military. Today the ceremonial structures and various other buildings that were in their time of grandeur between 800 - 1200 A.D are in various states of preservation, and open for travelers to explore. Set in a clearing surrounded by jungle, the history of Chichén Itzá entails stories of humans sacrifices and ultimately a violent end spurred by a revolt against the reigning powers that shifted development away from Chichén Itzá. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was recently declared one of the new 7 Wonders of ...
Thanks to numerous appearances in kung fu movies, the Shaolin Temples in the Henan Province are probably the most well-known of all temples in China. Nestled in the peaceful and beautiful Songshan Mountains, they are famed as being the birthplace of both kung fu and Chan Buddhism, aka Zen Buddhism. The "shao" in Shaolin refers to Mount Shaoshi and "lin" means “forest.” The Shaolin temples were built in approximately 497 AD to house an Indian monk named Batuo, who went to the ancient capital of Luoyang to spread Buddhism. The Indian monk most famous for his teachings at Shaolin however is Bodhidharma, who went to Shaolin in 517 AD. Bodhidharma’s teachings formed the basis of Chan Buddhism and the gymnastics regimen he taught the monks ...
The Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal is unrivaled in mayhem, with over two hundred long tailed macaques monkeying around with visitors daily. The antics unfold in the depths of some of the lushest green forests that Bali is famous for, with ancient sculptures and temples interspersed between trails and the consuming greenery. Drawing upwards of 10,000 visitors during peak visiting months, the Macaques at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud are well accustomed to humans and are even known to climb up and sit on your shoulder in return for a treat. More mischievous macaques have been known to run off with your sunglasses or watch so be sure to keep your eye on these little monkeys!
The remains of Sukhothai Kingdom evoke an unfeigned essence of early Thai culture. Although only in power for two centuries between 1238 to 1438, the Sukhothai Kingdom is often referred to as the leading influence in proper Thai culture. Nestled in fields of rice and sugar cane, the worn towers, broken brick walls, and crumbling stupas still impart a sense of clam and inner peace. Broken into four quadrants, the most prominent structure of the Sukhothai Historical Park is the Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat. This moated palace is 1,600 square meters and one of the most important temples showcasing many impressive Buddha images, towering columns, and picturesque pagodas. Inscriptions carved into the walls recount a time when the Great King Ramkhamhaeng placed a bell ...
India is a country rich in religion, the predominant one being Hinduism, but Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism have also made their mark on the subcontinent. The Hindu religion is rumored to contain upwards of 33 million gods, one can only imagine the abundance of temples in India there are for worship. Attempting to visit all of these would be foolish, but from Karnataka to Himachal Pradesh, you can visit temple after temple, from obscure to immaculate. Everywhere in India there are celebrations of the divine - on the bus a Ganesh (the elephant headed God) is surrounded by small, multi-colored blinking lights; in a rickshaw a picture of Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) is garlanded in marigolds; and a hotel lobby has a shrine ...
The national capital of India has many tourist attractions, and the famous Bahai Faith Lotus Temple of Delhi is right at the top of the list. A visit to the Lotus Temple should be high priority for any trip to the Indian capital. Open to all faiths, the stunning lotus shape architecture of marble, cement, dolomite and sand sets the scene for meditation, peace and tranquility. The Lotus Temple is the main temple in India to represent the youngest of all the independent religions in the world. Its founder father, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God, which includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The Lotus Temple is located in Kalkaji, south of Delhi, and ...
Perhaps overshadowed by the mainstream popularity of the Great Pyramids of Egypt, a visit to the vast Karnak Temple in Luxor brings you deep into the abode of the Gods. Known as Ipet-isut (the most selected of places), this conglomeration of ruined temples and chapels pays homage to the Theben triad of Gods: Amun, Mut and Khonsu. At 447 miles (721 km) downstream along the Nile River lies the Temple of Karnak, believed to be the second most visited site in Egypt. It’s easy to see why immediately as the temple imposes a grand and stately first impression. The massive open-air complex is filled with huge statues, sphinxes, temples, pylons and impressive hieroglyphics that are sure to wow. For a country that already has such ...
The vibrant city of Bangkok—a mesh of interlocking canals, brand new skyscrapers, palaces and Buddhist temples—lures tourists from around the world because of its beautiful culture and its sheer exotic attractions. Walking through its chaotic streets, a traveller can pass from a modern restaurant to an ancient “wat” (temple) in a matter of moments. There is perhaps no better example of Bangkok’s exotic magnetism than the heavenly temple of the Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho. Measuring a gargantuan 46 m long and 15 m high, the reclining Buddha of Wat Pho may not be the largest or longest Buddha in Thailand anymore (five reclining Buddha statues have surpassed it so far), but many believe that still nothing surpasses Wat Pho for its timeless beauty and ...
