5 Impressive Architectural Sites in Asia
1. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Photo by Arian Zwegers (CC BY 2.0)
Locally known as Taktshang Goemba, or Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites. Other than its religious importance, one of the most impressive things about the monastery is its location. Built on the edge of a cliff, the monastery sits about 900 meters off the ground in Western Bhutan. And it’s only accessible by a two-hour hike!
The location of the monastery is also important. It was built around a cave where Guru Rinpoche stayed and meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days, and 3 hours. In doing so, it was said he was able to overpower the evil demons residing in the cave during the 8th century.
Built: 1962
Location: Bhutan
2. Golden Temple
Photo by Arian Zwegers (CC BY 2.0)
Most people often talk about the Taj Mahal when they visit India, but did you know that the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is considered the holist of all temples, or Gurdwara? It is the Sikh’s most important pilgrimage site.
It is called the Golden Temple because the temple, although built with marble and copper, is overlaid with gold foil during its rebuilding during Maharaja Ranjit Signh’s reign. It was first built in 1604, but sustained damages and thefts throughout history.
Built: 1604
Location: Amritsar, Punjab state
3. Borobudur
Photo by Gilbert Sopakuwa (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Borobudur is the largest Buddhist structure in the world. It holds about 2,700 relief structures and 504 Buddha statues. It is a popular tourist sites, offering beautiful views of the sunrise and the sunset. The site took about 75 years to build, and has, and still is, undergoing many restoration projects.
The UNESCO world heritage site boasts a mix of Javanese style and architecture from the Gupta dynasty. It’s a reflection of indigenous and Indian aesthetics prevalent in ancient Java.
Built: 750 AD
Location: Indonesia
4. Himeji Castle
Photo by mzagerp (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The Himeji Castle is not only the most visited castle in all of Japan, but it is also the largest castle in the country. The castle is made up of 83 buildings, and believe it or not, it has never sustained any damages throughout history (both from nature or from man!).
The castle itself is well-protected, situated at a high location and surrounded by three moats. There are also many paths that eventually lead to a dead end, making it an architect’s dream to study the intersection of architectural design, war tactics, and defense strategies.
Built: 1333
Location: Japan
5. Lotus Temple
Photo by Jay Galvin (CC BY 2.0)
The Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, is a Bahāʾī Faith house of worship. Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba, the temple has received several awards for its design. Aligning with other Bahāʾī belief that the number nine is sacred and has mystical properties*,* the temple is characterized by nine sides. The temple’s 27 marble “petals” are clustered into groups of three, to produce the characteristic nine sides, which are also entrances that lead to a central space within.
Built: 1986
Location: New Delhi
