Spiritual Places in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia encompasses many deeply spiritual areas, with Buddhism and Islam being the prevailing religions. Ancient temples and mosques are scattered across the region alongside modern sites of worship, many of which can be visited outside of prayer times.
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is one of the region’s most famous religious monuments, but there are numerous other equally ornate holy sites to visit. The observation of sacred rituals can also be a fascinating way to gain insight into the spiritual makeup of Southeast Asia.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia: The sizable Angkor Wat temple complex near Cambodia’s Siem Reap is, for many, a spiritual highlight of a tour of the region. Mixing Vishnu, Buddhist and Hindu beliefs, the temple is one of Southeast Asia’s most visited sites.
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand: Housing the revered Emerald Buddha, the Wat Phra Kaew temple is a highlight of a trip to the Grand Palace. Here you can see locals paying respect to the many Buddha images.
Wat Xieng Thong, Laos: Translating as ‘Temple of the Golden City’, Xieng Thong temple in the sleepy UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang is a fine example of Lao Buddhist temple architecture.
Cao Dai Holy See Temple, Vietnam: The headquarters of the little-known Cao Dai religion in Ho Chi Minh City feature a beautiful temple of many religions. Don’t miss the interesting mosaics and paintings here.
Uluwatu Temple, Bali: Sitting 70m high on a cliff top is the Uluwatu temple, one of six directional temples in Bali. While the area is better known for its world-class surfing, visitors would do well to check this holy site out at sunset.
Ayutthaya, Thailand: The ancient capital of Siam is today covered in ruins, with leftovers from the kingdom including the remains of beautiful temples. The city was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century, but what is left is still of spiritual importance to the Thais.
Basakih Temple, Bali: This complex of more then 20 temples makes for a popular excursion from nearby Kuta. The Hindu temples are fine examples of the unique Balinese culture found on the island.
Wat Arun, Thailand: Taking its names from the Indian god of dawn, Aruna, this unique Thai temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River features a Khmer style spire constructed using Chinese porcelain tiles.
Plain of Jars, Laos: The mysterious Plain of Jars still puzzles archeologists as to its purpose, with dozens of 2,000-year-old jars placed in a field at Xieng Khouang. The jars are taller than a man and may have been used as sarcophagi.
Pyay, Burma: These Buddhist remains are a popular excursion from Bagan, a two-day cruise away by boat. The site ranks as Burma’s largest archeological excavation, and city walls, Buddha statues and the remains of pagodas can be discerned here.
Tomb of Khai Dinh, Vietnam: The beautiful tomb of Khai Dinh is a highlight of any trip to Hue, with its pretty mix of baroque, gothic and Chinese style features, and its ceramic and glass mosaics.
Baci Ceremony, Laos: This religious ceremony encompasses a number of interesting rituals including traditional dancing and group blessings. Visitors to Laos can observe this ancient Buddhist ceremony.
Open-air public cremation, Bali: The lively cremations of Hindus and Buddhists can be observed from afar in Bali. Thought to release the soul, the burning of bodies is accompanied by dance and religious rituals.
Thian Hock Keng Temple, Singapore: This peaceful house of worship in the heart of Singapore sees locals step out of the city’s bustle and into the serene atmosphere of this multi-faith temple to make Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian devotions.
Jalan Tokong, Malaysia: Nowhere else in Southeast Asia can you see a Hindu temple, an Islamic mosque and a Chinese temple sitting side by side. Jalan Tokong’s colonial leftovers, evidence of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Chinese occupation, are fascinating.