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Between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, Buddhism was established in northeastern India and quickly spread throughout the Asian subcontinent, influencing cultural and spiritual practices, art, and architecture. Today, approximately half a billion people worldwide practice Buddhism, with beliefs built upon principles such as the Four Noble Truths and the pursuit of nirvana. While traditional Buddhist temples often reflect the architectural style of the region where they are located, most remaining structures are designed with the higher purpose of providing a space for contemplative meditation and tranquility.
The rituals at Buddhist temples also share some common practices. Visitors should remove their shoes at the entrance, wear clothing that covers their knees and shoulders, and minimize noise. Pay attention to the signs erected around the temple area and avoid taking disruptive photos, especially when monks are praying.
According to a National Geographic survey, here are 20 stunning Buddhist temples with rich history and significant influence around the world that travelers should visit.
1. Bagan, Myanmar
The ancient capital of Bagan was once home to around 10,000 Buddhist structures. Today, the dusty pathways winding through the more than 2,000 remaining temples, from Dhammayangyi – Bagan's largest – to Shwezigon – Myanmar's first gilded temple – still make it an irresistible religious destination.
2. WAT BENCHAMABOPHIT, Thailand
Bangkok's Wat Benchamabophit temple was completed in 1911 and constructed entirely of imported Italian Carrara marble. The arched windows and stained glass depict the Thai "theppanom," or "angels." The temple's gallery houses 52 Buddha statues on individual columns, showcasing the diversity of Buddhist symbolism across different periods and locations.
3. SEIGENTO-JI, Japan
Located near a rocky waterfall with the highest waterfall in Japan, Seiganto-ji is a sanctuary on the edge of the Tendai Forest – a school of rationalist Buddhism that believes in an ever-changing existence. Seiganto-ji is also a stop on two different pilgrimage routes: the Saigoku Trail with its 33 temples and the ancient Kumano Kodō – one of only two UNESCO-recognized pilgrimage routes in the world.
4. Wat Rong Khun, Thailand
Founded in 1997, the pristine white Wat Rong Khun temple in northern Thailand was designed and entirely funded by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The mosaic murals covering the facades, and the colorful interiors adorned with depictions of Spider-Man, Michael Jackson, and Hello Kitty, are the temple's most striking features. Despite its modern sophistication, visitors are still required to dress respectfully and behave with reverence, as they would in other traditional temples.
5. Paro Taktsang, Bhutan
Paro Taktsang is located in Bhutan's Paro Valley. It's a cliffside temple accessible only by a half-hill hike over a waterfall, or by riding in bumpy carts, or by viewing it from afar at a Tibetan-style tea house with a panoramic view. Padmasambhava – the guru responsible for bringing Buddhism to Bhutan – is said to have meditated for three years in the Paro Taktsang cave after flying on the back of a magical tigress, hence its nickname, "Tiger's Nest."
6. TAUNG KALAT, MYANMAR
The Burmese king Anawrahta, from the 11th century, began incorporating nat worship (ancient spirits) into Buddhist temples and practices. Thirty-seven natural statues—depicting human forms—were erected at the foot of the 777 steps leading to the Taung Kalat gate, a small temple atop a 557-foot-high volcano in central Myanmar, to clearly demonstrate this devotion.
7. WAT XIENG THONG, Laos
The name Wat Xieng Thong can be translated as "golden city" or "torch." It is a sacred site dedicated to coronations and the annual Lao New Year celebrations. Elegantly situated on the Mekong River, the temple's rear wall gleams with a colorful mosaic depicting the symbol of the tree of life. The Luang Prabang-style roofs often end in upward curves, intended to ward off evil spirits.
8. MAN MO TEMPLE, HONG KONG
Wishes written on red paper are often hung from the ceiling throughout Hong Kong's Buddhist and Taoist Man Mo temple, built in 1847 to honor the god of culture (Man) and the god of war (Mo). Besides offering wishes to the gods, visitors can also shake bamboo tubes (fortune-telling tubes) and listen to their future being interpreted by fortune tellers at the temple.
9. Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam
Tran Quoc Pagoda, dating back to the 6th century, has been floating on a small island in West Lake, Hanoi. This red pagoda is 11 stories high, with its spire topped by a nine-tiered lotus flower made of precious stone. Tran Quoc boasts gold and bronze statues adorning the altars throughout the pagoda, and three different female Buddhas – known as "Mothers" – seated in the front courtyard.
10. KYE GOMPA, India
Since its construction over a thousand years ago, India's Kye Gompa temple has been repeatedly attacked by armies over the centuries, suffered fires, and most notably, endured the 1975 earthquake. Nestled in the Himalayas at an altitude of 13,668 feet above sea level, the temple is built with multiple layers of interconnected walls and is an example of the multi-tiered architecture of the Pas Pasada fort. It also frequently hosts spiritual retreats for foreign visitors.
11. Buu Long Pagoda, Vietnam
Just a 45-minute drive east of Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can reach Buu Long Pagoda, situated on the riverside, where dragons are carved and coiled around the staircase leading to the temple, and a turquoise pool reflects the temple's white walls and golden spire.
12. MAHABODHI, India
The Mahabodhi Temple, dating back over 2,000 years, is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhist pilgrimage. A giant Bodhi tree located to the west of the temple is believed to be the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Meanwhile, scattered stone petals mark the path where lotus flowers bloomed at the Buddha's feet as he walked and meditated.
13. BYODO-IN TEMPLE, HAWAII
Built entirely without foundations to commemorate the centenary of the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, Byodo-In Temple in the O'ahu Valley is a replica of the original Byodo-In Temple in Kyoto. It houses a golden Amida Buddha statue over 9 feet tall. The temple grounds are also home to peacocks, black swans, and turtles that roam freely, and the surrounding ponds are teeming with large koi fish, some around 100 years old.
14. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure ever built in the world. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, the Cambodian people later handed the sandstone temple over to Theravada Buddhism near the end of the 12th century. Spanning 401 acres, Angkor is a religious icon visited by pilgrims from all over the world.
15. Gyeongbokgung Palace, South Korea
Nestled amidst lush gardens and nestled between the Bukansan Mountains and Seoul's glass skyscrapers, Gyeongbokgung Palace of the Joseon Dynasty once comprised over 500 buildings. Many spaces, such as the inner chambers, banquet halls, temples, shrines, lotus ponds, and gardens, remain intact to this day. Notably, the palace featured overhead chimneys to release smoke from ondol (a type of incense burning) and an advanced underfloor heating system dating back thousands of years.
16. DATSAN GUNZECHOINEI, Russia
Russia is home to approximately 1.5 million practicing Buddhists, and St. Petersburg is home to Datsan Gunzechoinei – one of the northernmost Buddhist temples in the world. Although today it is primarily a place of worship, in the past the temple was used for military communications, sports, and zoological research.
17. Gangtey Monastery, Bhutan
Nestled amidst nomadic Tibetan cattle herders and situated within Bhutan's largest natural wetland, Gangtey Monastery is one of the monasteries belonging to the Nyingmapa High School. Every November, locals gather in the temple courtyard to dance in black and white crane costumes to welcome the migrating black-necked cranes during the winter. The mythical Garuda bird – a symbol of Buddhist wisdom – is carved into the corners of the temple's exterior.
18. Kopan Monastery, Nepal
Home to hundreds of monks chanting and foreign students meditating, Kopan Monastery sits 3.5 miles northeast of Kathmandu on a hilltop that once belonged to a Nepalese royal astrologer. The meditation hall in the center of the monastery is painted in vibrant colors, each with its own meaning, such as the yellow ceiling symbolizing roots, while the red pillars represent vitality and preservation.
19. Borobudur, Indonesia
The central Javanese temple complex, Borobudur, is the world's largest Buddhist temple. It features 3,000 relief sculptures, 72 stupas, and 504 Buddha statues, all arranged in a lotus flower pattern against the backdrop of the Menoreh Mountains. Climbing the nine steps east of Borobudur to the temple's final stupa is approximately three miles.
20. Thean Hou Temple, Malaysia
The Thean Hou temple is known as the "Queen's Paradise" of Muslims because it is situated under the shade of a tree believed to be where Buddha attained enlightenment. Thean Hou is perhaps most impressive at sunset during the Lunar New Year, when thousands of red lanterns are unfurled from the temple's eaves.
