Asia, and in particular Southeast Asia, is a rich architectural landscape with countless historical sites. The splendor of its vast number of magnificent buildings and their incredible architecture is sure to take your breath away. Some of these vestiges of past glory are crumbling due to time, wars and pollution. As a result, many of these structures are under protection, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. So, when you plan a luxury Asia tour, be sure to include a visit to some of these spectacular Top 10 Architectural Sights of Asia:

1 Taj Mahal on a bright and clear day, India

1- The Taj Mahal, India:  One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is the epitome of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s love for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built with ivory-white marble, on the banks of the River Yamuna in Agra, the Taj Mahal took about 20 years to build and was finally completed in 1648. The mausoleum complex is about 42 acres, with the colossal Taj sitting in the center. The beauty and magnificence of the pristine white Taj Mahal and its beautiful sprawling Mughal gardens, are even more enhanced on full moon nights. Make it a point to visit the Taj by moonlight when you plan a luxury Asia tour to India.

2 Angkor Wat and reflecting pool at sunset, Siem Reap, Cambodia

2- Angkor Wat, Cambodia: Set amidst 402 acres and surrounded by over 100 temples, the Angkor Wat presides over the Angkor Archaeological Park, situated near Siem Reap in Cambodia. It was built as a Hindu temple for Lord Vishnu during the reign of the Khmer King, Suryavarman II, in the early 12th century. Towards the end of the 12th century it was transformed into a Buddhist temple, and remains so till date. The sandstone temple features beautiful bas-reliefs and the architectural elements of the pyramid and concentric galleries. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, which was the mythological home of the Hindu devas. Visit Angkor Wat on your luxury Asia tour to get lost in the mysticism and grandeur of this majestic temple.

3 Atmosphere of dusk at Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar

3- Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar: Situated in Yangon, the erstwhile capital of Myanmar, this 2,500-year-old gold-plated pagoda is a sight to behold on your luxury Asia tour. There are 4531 diamonds encrusted into the top part of the stupa, with the largest diamond being about 72 carats. Buddha’s hair and some other holy relics are enshrined here, making it the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar. The pagoda complex has hundreds of temples, statues and stupas.

4 Stupas in Borobudur Temple, Central Java, Indonesia

4- Borobudur, Indonesia: Candi Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, was built as a Mahayana Buddhist temple in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty. The temple, which took about 75 years to build, has nine stacked platforms, and 504 Buddha statues. It lay undiscovered for centuries as it was covered by volcanic ash. But, after restorations, it is one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations.  This imposing structure with its grand architecture and artistry, set amidst the panoramic beauty of Indonesia, should be on your bucket list when you plan a luxury Asia tour.

5 Hue imperial city, Vietnam

5- Hue Imperial City, Vietnam: The Hue Imperial City was home to the Nguyen Dynasty. Built as a citadel, the massive complex has hundreds of monuments including the Forbidden Purple City, which once the residence of the Nguyen royal family. Within the 2.5 km-long and 6 mt-high city walls are palaces and temples, main buildings of state, and a museum. The imperial city is also called the Complex of Hue Monuments, and this enclosure was badly damaged during the Vietnam War. Yet the 20 remaining buildings of the original 148 will fill you with awe on your luxury Asia tour to this city.

6 Luang Prabang – Wat Xieng Thong, Laos

6- Wat Xieng Thong, Laos:  The Wat Xieng Thong temple is the finest and the most beautiful Buddhist temple in Laos, one you should visit on a luxury Asia tour. Wat Xieng Thong, also called as “The Temple of the Golden City”, was built around 1559-1560 by the Lao King Setthathirath I. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, this temple was a ceremonial gateway to the city of Luang Prabang, and the venue for royal coronations. Steps from the Mekong river lead to the beautiful temple with typical sweeping roofs and gilded walls, which houses a serene Laotian Buddha. The outer walls of the temple depict legends of Laos, and the back wall is decorated with a glass mosaic of the Tree of Life.

7 Paro Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan

7- Paro Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan: Also called Taktsang Palphug Monastery, the Paro Taktsang sits at a height of 3120 mt above the sea level, on an indent in the steep cliff within the Paro valley of Bhutan. According to legend, Padmasmabhava, Bhutan’s Buddhist Master, was bought here by a tigress. This Buddhist temple complex has four main temples, eight caves and also places for the monks to stay. The main temple has a hall of the Thousand Buddhas, and a large statue of a tigress. A luxury Asia tour to Bhutan is incomplete without visiting this remote monastery, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1998 completely burned it down.

8 Swayambhunath stupa, Nepal

8- Swayambhunath Stupa, Nepal: Situated on a hilltop in the Kathmandu Valley, the Swayambunath Stupa is said to be self-manifested (sayambhu). According to Buddhist legend, about 2,000 years ago, the Kathmandu Valley used to be filled with water, and the Swayambhu Hill was an island with natural crystal stupa. Lord Buddha declared that this was a wish-fulfilling stupa. Bodhisattva Manjusri, a Buddhist monk from China, emptied the water from the valley and made it accessible to everyone. Today, the crystal stupa is housed inside the dome shaped structure. Get enlightened when you visit this sacred Buddhist temple in Nepal on your luxury Asia tour.

9 Sigiriya Fortress, Sri Lanka

9- Sigiriya, Sri Lanka: Built in the 5th century, Sigiriya is fortress complex built on a monolith and was designed as a huge stone lion. Only the claws of the lion can be seen today. The monolith is about 200 mt higher than its surrounding, and you can see the ruins of a palace, its fortifications, gardens, canals, ponds, alleys and fountains. Some artistic frescoes can also be found on the walls. The Mirror Wall at Sigiriya was believed to polished so that it could be used as a mirror by the king. Visit here to see the unmatched urban planning, architecture, water engineering, and art which are silent testimonies to the rich past of Sri Lanka, when you embark on your next luxury Asia tour.

10 Wat Samphran Dragon Temple, Thailand

10- Wat Samphran Dragon Temple, Thailand: Located just outside Bangkok, the Wat Samphran Dragon Temple is a 17-storey pink cylindrical tower with a huge dragon wrapped around the entire height. The dragon is hollow and visitors are allowed to walk in some of its sections. You will never find a temple like this anywhere in the world. Located in the temple compound are amazing statues of Buddha and animals. Go off the beaten track at Thailand and visit this incredible temple during your luxury Asia tour of Thailand.

We hope to have inspired you to visit some of these Top 10 Architectural Sights of Asia. To plan your private, tailor-made luxury Asia tour, get in touch with us at Enchanting Travels. 

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View of Angkor from Phnom Bakeang

Located in Siem Reap, truly magical Angkor Wat was to be my first visit to a UNESCO World Heritage destination. I had heard that Angkor Wat was truly magical thanks to UNESCO great commitment to preserve these archaeological and historical sites and their surroundings in impeccable conditions. Siem Reap in itself is lively and surprisingly trendy when it comes to accommodation, restaurants and hotels, with countless boutique hotels for a 21^st century hip traveller. Magnificent ancient religious and cultural monuments,  beautiful  scenery and landscape, happening nightlife and not to mention friendly locals of Siem Reap have all help to make it one of my most memorable trips, and this triggered my passion to further explore Southeast Asia.

It was in early May, the temperature was simply burning hot and humid. The sun was strong, but as I was well equipped with a hat and sun protection among the several travelling gadgets, the heat wasn’t a nuisance at all. The  timing was not the best in terms of weather; however, for those serious enough to visit Angkor Wat and take photos, it was the right time to come: the excessive heat had driven away the majority of overseas tourists, leaving only those from neighboring countries who are used to such climate. Thus, it was a heaven for young travelers and photographers for they could take all the time needed in each of their favourite photo spots.

Angkor Wat

From the top of Angkor 1

First destination was Angkor Wat, one of the seven wonders and most renowned religious and cultural site in Siem Reap. It was exciting for me, especially not knowing what to really expect, though I had had a slight photo glimpse from my loyal DK Traveler Guidebook. My first glance of Angkor Wat was along the walkway across the surrounding water reservoir. As we entered the causeway, my friends spotted this popular photo angle from where most professional photographers – definitely not us – take shots of the temple’s reflection on the pond in front of it. My shot was indeed an attempt version, and I promised myself to return with a more advanced camera and better skills.

The temple – or Wat – is an incredible construction in classic Khmer architectural style, and its interior design truly represents the clash between the two most astonishing civilizations and faiths: Hinduism (12^th century) and Buddhism (14^th Century). The laterite building material covered with soft sandstone really passed the chill feeling of how ancient, sacred and magical the site once was and still is at the present day. Its cultural, religious and historical significance is so tremendous that it became a national symbol and was placed on the flag of Cambodia. Angkor Wat could well be comparable to Istanbul‘s Hagia Sofia, with its assimilation of Islam and Christianity.

Angkor Wat outline was not just a simple one straight causeway to the main temple section. Before reaching the Central Sanctuary, I discovered that Angkor Wat’s outline is not just a simple one straight causeway to the main temple section but an interesting series of galleries, chambers, porches and courtyards in almost a maze-like number of paths and stairways. Walking along the galleries, I passed besides several Buddha Statues, feeling slightly let down when I saw that some part of these statues were dissected. What a magical sight all of this would have been if it had been preserved exactly the way it was in those days, though logically I understand this was impossible to achieve.

Apsara carvings

As we all reached in the main part of the Central Sanctuary, the mountain-like pyramidal shape temple, we marveled at the wall carvings of Apsara dancing girls, each one different from the other, all wearing carved ornaments and circlets. To get to the top of the Central Sanctuary was a very steep climb, so much so that the government had to build additional steps to assist visitors and assure their safety. Once I reached the top, I was impressed by the surrounding landscape and scenery, an endless panoramic view covering hundreds and hundreds of acres. We were so spellbound by the scene that It took us quite a long time before we could move on to another significant attraction: the Bayon Temple.

Bayon Temple

Despite being much smaller than Angkor Wat, the impact from Bayon Temple was equally overwhelming. Perhaps it was the physical vicinity of all the bodhisattva stone faces and the dark colours of the stones that made me feel like I was in those ancient times. This archaeological site also has some great bas-relief in fine details, including depictions of Khmer Army in procession. The best treat for me was the sight of Bayon Temple’s well defined towers and sculptures from its Southern gate.

Ta Prohm

Bayon faces

Ta Prohm is another magnificent site within Angkor Thom. This area combines jungle surroundings and an archaeological site where ancient tree crawl around ruins and temples, providing a truly distinctive character. There are three significant attractions there, namely crocodiles, waterfalls and the popular Tomb Raider tree, part of the filming location for Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider movie.  Worth mentioning also astonishing sites such as Pre Rup (Crematorium), Preh Khan (a temple with famous bas-reliefs of the Hall of Dancer), Preh Neak Pean (the Sacred Pond) and Banteay Srei, a 10th Century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and made with a hard red sandstone that can be carved like wood.

The Sunset

Apart from an endless lists of archeological sites, Siem Reap is also blessed with incredible landscape and scenery. Tonlen Sap is Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake, one the several popular sites where to marvel at the floating villages, and a great place where to enjoy breathtaking sunsets over the horizon. The idea of a spectacular sunset triggered a climb to Phnom Bakheng; once there, we had plenty of time to relax, rest and chill while enjoying the view of the almighty Angkor Wat from the top of the hill. This completed my collection of great sunsets!

Restaurants and Night Out

Park Hyatt interior

We had lunch at trendy Shintamanee Boutique Hotel, and had an afternoon tea at Park Hyatt’s gorgeous pink themed tea room, where service was great and the tea set was delicious and beautifully presented. Their ice coffee really made our day during that boiling day of May.

Siem Reap at night is at Pub Street, where visitors are offered numerous choices from bars and restaurants that with or without air conditioning, street foods stalls, night markets, and fine Khmer, French and International cuisine.

Truly magical Angkor Wat has it all, from amazing archeological sightseeing to beautiful landscapes and sceneries, to great cuisine and night out. Siem Reap really summed it all up as an ideal travel destination in Southeast Asia, with its mystique and enigmatic ambience.

COME ON TOUR WITH US

Join us for a unique adventure! Discover these fascinating places and let yourself be swept away by the beauty of the world with our travel branch FANTASIA ASIA – click on the following programs to know more:

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/offbeat-siem-reap-6-days-5-night/

https://www.fantasiaasia.com/tour/the-wonders-of-angkor-7days-6ights/

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Watch here for our VIDEO on Siem Reap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-SvjBjyWfc 

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THE FACTS

Collection of broken images at Wat Umong

Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham, which translates to ‘Temple of the tunnels and Buddha Dhamma garden’, is more commonly referred to as Wat Umong, and is a 700-year-old Buddhist forest temple located against the mountains of the Suthep range in Chiang Mai. One of the lesser known temples amongst the hundreds of Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai, this unique 14th-century temple is a fascinating and unique one and is indeed worth a visit. The entire Wat Umong complex occupies a tranquil setting and consists of 15 acres of still heavily forested grounds.

THE HISTORY

Wat Umong was founded and built at the end of the 13^th century, more precisely in 1297, by King Mengrai of the Lanna dynasty, first King of the Lanna Kingdom and founder of Chiang Mai. According to a local legend, King Mengrai regularly consulted a monk who lived at Wat Umong, a temple located within the old city walls of Chiang Mai. The resident monk, Thera Chan, meditated in peace and quiet inside a tunnel. When Chiang Mai city grew bigger and more crowded, Thera Chan found it more and more difficult to meditate, so devoted King Mengrai ordered to dig a number of tunnels inside a man-made mound in a forested area outside of the city, at the foothills of Suthep mountain, the current location of modern Wat Umong. The walls that lined theses tunnels were plastered, Buddhist murals were painted on them – unfortunately most of them have disappeared – and eventually shrines with images of the Buddha were added. Thera Chan finally had a new place where to meditate in peace.

A young monk chatting on a smartphone

Wat Umong was abandoned during the 15^th century, only to be restored and reoccupied during the 1940’s, and in 1949 it started functioning as a center for meditation and Buddhist teachings (see paragraph below). This long period of disuse explains its overgrown look and somewhat dilapidated atmosphere. Today Wat Umong is an active temple with a few resident monks, and visitors can finally take advantage of this historical center for Buddhism.

THE ASHOKA PILLAR

The temple grounds are home to a copy of an Ashoka pillar dating back to the founding of the temple in the 13^th century. Back in the 3^rd century BC, the Indian King Ashoka dispatched monks across South and South East Asia to spread Buddhism, and a large number of pillars were erected in the visited countries, inscribed with details about the spread of Buddhism. The Ashoka pillar at Wat Umong is a replica of an Ashoka pillar located in Vaishali; a further replica is stored in a museum in Sarnath, the village where the Buddha told his first sermon.

SCATTERED BUDDHA IMAGES

Ashoka pillar at Wat Umong

The first interesting thing you notice as you walk towards the main tunnel entrance is a curious collection of amazing Buddha heads, religious oddities and other relics scattered on the grounds between the trees. These collection of broken images started when some worshippers rescued some of them from an abandoned temple, and it is now being enriched by devotees who find such relics, or by those who have a broken Buddha to replace.

TREE SIGNS

You will love the ‘talking trees’ along Wat Umong temple grounds that display signs with Buddhist proverbs and words of wisdom both in Thai and in English. Amongst them:

“Love is Devine, lust is devil”

“Today is better then two tomorrows”

“Nothing is permanent. Things go in and go out”

“All things arise, exist and expire”

“The thing that is liked or disliked just appears, exists for a moment and expires”

“Detachment is a way to relax”

One of the several tunnels

THE TUNNELS

The path then leads to the artificial earth mound under which there is an underground tunnel system of criss-crossed passageways. Within the maze-like tunnels are meditation cells and shrines with revered Buddha images where devotees can pay respect to the Enlightened. A legend tells that Thera Chan, the highly regarded resident monk at the time, was slightly mentally deranged and had the habit of wandering off into the bush for days on end. King Mengrai could have had the tunnels built and their walls painted with bush scenes in order to keep the monk from wandering off. Whatever the truth behind these tunnels, they add to the temple’s mysterious air.

THE CHEDI

Both the front and the back of the mound have flights of steps taking up to a large, circular and bell-shaped chedi (stupa) in Lanna style which has recently been restored. This picturesque and imposing chedi is usually draped in orange cloth and was built right on top of the underground tunnels. The front stone staircase has Naga snakes at its lower end and leads to some of the monks’ cells and other out-buildings.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

A magnificent Buddha statue

There is a library museum containing several books on Buddhism as well as a collection of historic objects and Buddhist art. Opening times are clearly displayed, but the museum may be closed in occasion of special festivities or events.

Near the museum is an interesting display of reproductions of ancient Indian Buddhist stone sculptures and a School of Pali language, and a building hosting incredibly accurate spiritual wall paintings. The monks living quarters, or ‘kuti’, are scattered in the forest.

POND/LAKE

If you have some extra time on hand, then spend it to explore further. Pass the mound and the pagoda, follow the footpath flanked by woods and gardens and you will emerge by a small lake. It is an excellent and peaceful place to relax, spot birds and butterflies and other wildlife. One popular activity is feeding the resident fish, ducks and turtles. You can buy the food from one of the local vendors there. Locals flock to the place at weekends, wandering and sitting by the water.

MEDITATION AND DHAMMA TALKS

Vipassana scripts on stone

The great temple settings, the heavily forested area and the small lake all make Wat Umong the perfect place for meditation. Meditation activities and Buddhist teachings started right after restoration of Wat Umong was completed in 1948, while the Meditation and International Buddhist Education Center opened its doors in 2005 with the objective of spreading theoretical and practical Buddhism amongst both Thais and foreigners.

Wat Umong meditation classes are very popular, and meditators particularly enjoy the peaceful and natural settings of the temple grounds. You can chose between the Vipassana method, based on the foundations of mindfulness, and the Anapanasati method, which concentrates on breathing. Foreigners are more than welcome, however make sure that the sessions are in English too before you join the practice. Information can be had on http://www.dhammathai.org/e/meditation/page23.php

The other great opportunity visitors to Wat Umong have is the chance to have a chat with monks who can speak English. Dhamma talks (also popularly known in Chiang Mai as ‘monk chat’) usually happen in English every Sunday between 3 and 6 pm, when monks gather at the Chinese pavilion near the pond to talk about Buddhism and to answer visitors’ questions. There are also occasional one-off sessions in meditation areas, if you are lucky you may be able to join one.

MY VISIT

One of the tunnels

Wat Umong is one of my favorite temples in Chiang Mai and I visit it every time I am in town. I love particularly the shady temple grounds, the temple peaceful settings and the serene and peaceful atmosphere. Adding to all this the fact that the large temple grounds are often filled with the sounds of monks’ chanting, Wat Umong certainly provides a welcome change as it differs from the much visited sites in Chiang Mai. Wat Umong can be especially magical just after the rainy season has ended, around early October or November: the brick walls of the mound and the stone works are covered with moss, vines and small plants. Overall, Wat Umong is such an interesting spot to visit, a tranquil site to while away some time, and a nice diversion from the bustle of Chiang Mai. A site well worth your trip.

GETTING THERE

Located 2 kilometers West of Chiang Mai city, Wat Umong is off Suthep Road, just outside the city center. It is a bit off the beaten track, and indeed tricky to get to by bicycle, so it is advisable to catch a mean of transport. You can contract a songthaew – a converted pick up truck with two benches in the back; these stop when you raise your hand and flag it down. The trip to Wat Umong will take about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown and it can cost in between 100 and 150 thb per person one way.

If you are driving there yourself with a motorbike, find any map of the town and Wat Umong will be marked there. If you want to treat yourself, hire a private taxi; your hotel can book one for you. The going fare is about 250 thb one way. Wat Umong opens daily from 6 am until 5 pm, and admission is free.

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