5 Awe-Inspiring Temples To Visit in the Far East

BY Jessica Shanks

If you’re not already planning to visit a few temples on your next vacation to the Far East, you’ll be missing out. Many of these timeless edifices have stood for centuries, drawing the faithful and withstanding the rigors of time. Now, pilgrims and tourists alike of all nationalities and beliefs flock to their steps and hallowed doors. Their beauty stands as a silent testament to spirituality and artistry. So many are ornate, with countless gorgeous carvings, reliefs, statues, and impressive architectural and artistic feats making them true national treasures. They’re sure to have something for you to marvel at and provide some truly incredible photo ops. Check out our picks and add at least one to your “must-see” list, you won’t be disappointed you did.

Wat Pho-Thailand

Temples To Visit In The Far East - The Modern East

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If seeing a giant golden reclining statue of Buddha is on your list of priorities, this temple is your stop. It’s famous for its 46 meter long statue of just that. Aside from that claim to fame, Wat Pho is actually Bangkok’s oldest and largest complex of temples. It also houses the largest collection of images of Buddha in the country and is touted as the being the first center for public education in Thailand.

Kek Lok Si-Malaysia

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An absolutely stunning tableau of colors and architectural styles, this temple located on the island of Penang was built in the late 1800s and called “The Temple of Supreme Bliss”. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and the site is comprised of everything from prayer sites, monasteries, gift shops, carefully tended gardens, and even a turtle pond. Be sure not to miss the towering 30-metre high pagoda of Rama VI and the 12 animal statues representing the Chinese Zodiac. If you can, visit during Chinese New Year when the site is decked out in countless Chinese lanterns.

Haeinsa Temple-South Korea

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If you want to do more than just visit, this beautiful temple tucked away in the Gaya Mountains does offer a temple stay program. You can spend several nights here as a guest, learning alongside the monks who still use this active monastery and carry on their tasks amid the throngs of visitors. The structure dates back all the way to 802 A.D. and features more than 80,000 hand carved wooden blocks adorned with scripture. Who would pass up the chance to stay here?

Sanctuary of Truth-Thailand

Made entirely out of wood and by far the “baby” of our list, this temple built in 1981 is still an ongoing work. It celebrates Khmer, Indian, Thai, and Chinese religious iconography, dedicating a wing to each. The temple/shrine itself was designed, as well as constructed by, a Thai millionaire. His motivation was to highlight and preserve the art of ancient wood working skills as well as showcase their beauty and give current generations an appreciation for them. His efforts didn’t go to waste. The temples in this place are truly breath-taking.

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Longmen Cave Temples-China

This series of 2.300 caves that extend for over 1km are home to over 110,000 statues. The caves house some amazing examples of Chinese art with the statues carved right into the limestone. Created between the years of 316 and 907, these works are considered the pinnacle of stone carving in China. While the beautiful, massive reliefs are truly amazing, perhaps just as amazing is the fact that all of the caves themselves were man made.