Have you decide you next holiday destination? Are you confused which site to visit this time? Are you bored of resorts, beaches and mountains, party destinations and fashionable high end sites? If the answer to all the three questions is yes, let me suggest you to take a holy ride! Yes, you may try visiting some of the ancient temples in the world and explore the mythological facts while you get an added scenic view of the nature around the temples as well as the architectural splendour of the hundreds or thousands of years old and often battle scarred temples and forts.
This time, plan for a peaceful holiday while you are tired of partying on the beaches and resorts and exploring the adventurous mountains and islands. So book your tickets and start packing your bags while I give you the list of 10 most amazing temples in the world, as below:
1. Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, Greece
The Temple of Hephaestus, situated in the dreamy location of Athens in Greece was built about 2500 years ago! It is definitely a delightful sight to watch the modern styled yet historical temple dedicated to the Greek God Hephaestus, or the Lord of metal work, architecture and craftsmanship!
Dating back to about 2500 years and still standing fresh and strong is really commendable and hats off to the builders! Bow to thee! It is also funny that Lord Hephaestus was earlier the Greek God of making pizzas, however you don’t get pizzas in the temple here!
2. Philae Temples on Agilkia Island in Egypt
Egypt, the land of pyramids and mommies is quite popular in itself! The stories of the land, the myths and historical remnants are some of the reasons which makes it a dream location for many travel aspires. Among several attractions here in Egypt, the Philae Temples on the Agilkia Island is really noteworthy.
First of all, it is large and spread across a large area. Secondly, it is one of the ancient ever religious places in the globe as it dates back to 400 BC. Situated at the foot of Lake Nasser, the religious piece offers you a tranquil sight with the clear blue waters running by thus giving you an added natural splendour besides the spiritual and religious segment in your travel package! It is believed that the Temple of Philae is dedicated to the Goddess of Isis. As per the Greek mythology, Lord Isis is one of the primary Goddesses of the surrounding island of Agilkia, surrounding the blue waters of Lake Nasser.
3. Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India
The Lotus Temple in India is fairly new as compared to the age old temples and forts which occupy a world famous reputation. It was built in 1986 and resembles a fully blossomed flower of lotus. The Lotus temple stands a centre of worship for the Bahai people.
If you don’t know about Bahai, let me tell you that it is the second most popular religion after Christianity! Also, the Lotus temple doesn’t stop anyone from entering due to religious barricades, it is open for anyone and everyone! It believes in the one and only supreme power of The God.
4. Thatbyinnyu Temple in Bagan, Myanmar
First let me take you to Gawdawpalin Temple in Myanmar. It is a Buddhist temple which ages back to the 12th century. This historical site was destroyed by an earthquake in 1975. Situated near the Gawdawpalin Temple is the Thatbyinnyu Temple which was built in the same year. Thatbyinnyu is world famous because of its height, it is the tallest temple in Myanmar and people from across the globe come to explore the magnificent temple along with the Gawdawpalin’s damaged buildings which still hold the spark of the ages!
Did you know that Thatbyinnu means omniscience, this describes the state of Lord Buddha when he entered the path of spiritualism and penance. The temple of Thatbyinnu is marked by a statue of Lord Buddha seated on a throne of lotus in the terrace.
Also Read : Top 10 Most Popular Buddhist Monasteries in India
5. Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, India
The Supreme God’s abode is said to be here at the Swaminarayan Akshardham of New Delhi. The construction of this magnificent piece was completed in 2005. Also, this stands as the largest Hindu religious monument in the world till date.
However, this will face a competition in the future years when New Jersey completes the building of the largest temple which is even bigger! Even though it is a religious site, it houses several attractions in the huge complex, like a musical fountain, a food court and a robotics display among the many! It is the famous temple in Delhi which you can explore through luxury trains. Palace on Wheels start their journey from Delhi
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6. Golden Temple in Amritsar, India
This is the holiest of places for the Sikhs. The Golden Temple is actually a Gurudwara, which literally means a gateway to the Guru or the spiritual escort. It is believed and is a fact that the first draft of the Adi Granth (the holy booklet of the Sikhs) was written here.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar is known to the world for the highest number of devotees visiting the temple every day, about 10000 devotees are known to pay visit to this amazing site each day! No matter if you are a Sikh or not, you must visit the only temple in the world which is decked up in gold that shines bright out under the morning Sun to mesmerize you like no other!
7. Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China
The biggest advantage of visiting The Temple of Heaven is that you get to see a number of temples here, decorated with arts of history and standing tall against the battles of time! Yes, it is a complex of temples which ages back to the 15th century.
It is considered in the list of Taoist temples however the rulers of the Ming and Qing dynasties also used to worship and offer their prayers as well as sacrifice to the Heaven for a rich harvest. The practice of worshipping Heaven and not a single deity like many of the other religions was quite common along with offering a sacrifice. Also, The Temple of Heaven houses an altar of the Heaven itself!
8. Borobudur, Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the most visited international destinations by the youth these days. It bags amazing scenic views with adventure sports, luxurious resorts and everything that you desire for in an international travel. However, for a spiritual touch to your travel in Indonesia, step afoot on Borobudur, which records the highest number of visits in India.
Also, Borobudur houses the largest Buddhist monument in the globe. This undoubtedly attracts tourists from across the globe and is also included in the Seven Wonders of the World. This site ages back to the early 8th century and still stands strong enough to allure the tourists and leave them in awe, leaving behind some of the most party hopping sites and colourful beaches!
9. Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India
As the myth goes, Siddhartha Gautama meditated under a peepal tree at this very place. The meditation went on for a long stretch of three nights and three days, after which Siddhartha Gautama attained the enlightenment of spiritual awakening. Once he attained the spiritual height, he renounced his individual self and thus gave up his identity as a royal prince and became to be known as Buddha.
The Mahabodhi Temple houses a tree on its western part, known as the Bodhi tree. It is believed that it is the same tree underneath which Lord Buddha sat and meditated and thus attained the spiritual awakening! However don’t you think it is weird that a tree still exists from 530 BC? Well, you should visit the Mahabodhi Temple and explore this Bodhi tree before exploring the architect or surrounding natural scenic views!
10. Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Angkor Wat temple is one of the treasures of Cambodia, while it boasts to be the largest ever religious monument in the globe! Did you know that this Angkor Wat temple appears in the national flag of Cambodia? Yes, observe closely! There it is. This temple started off as a Hindu religious temple and then it became a Buddhist pilgrimage site, as per the records of history.
Another fascinating feature is that Angkor wat is a complex of several temples and not just a single old piece of architect and art unlike others!
If you are tired of your modern day life and seek some peace with a spiritual touch to heal you from within, it is time to seek blessings from the Lord to help you grow. A travel to one of the most religious places of the world promises you a spiritual lift along with the pleasures of sightseeing and spending some time close to nature as well as learning the several myths which you might have missed! Why not try out something different in your next vacation in search of The Supreme and The Divine!
