Do you plan on going to Asia anytime soon? Maybe you want to know about the most beautiful places to visit in India? Then you have come to the right place! Asia is a vast continent, and everyone can find a place for themselves. What’s more, Asia is a heaven for every sightseeing enthusiast - there are over 180 cultural UNESCO Heritage sites.
In this article, you will find a list of 8 most breathtaking UNESCO sites in Asia you surely need to visit. You can learn more about places like Angkor Archaeological Park, Hoi An, Ayutthaya, and many more. Read on and plan your Asian vacation!
Angkor Archaeological Park is a huge complex of temples and other buildings built between the 9th and 15th century in Cambodia. The most famous temples include Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Banteay Kdei, and Preah Khan.
The complex is a World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The temple of Angkor Wat is regarded as the largest religious monument in the world.
Hoi An Ancient Town is a small town in Vietnam with over 2000 years of history. It was founded in the 15th century by Chinese traders and served as an important port between the 16th and 19th century. In the 17th century, it was a major international port that traded with several countries around the world.
Today, Hoi An Ancient Town is a popular tourist destination famous for its well-preserved traditional architecture. The ancient town was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is an ancient city in Thailand that was built in 1350. It was the second capital of Thailand before Bangkok became the capital. It was destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767 after a siege that lasted nearly a year. Today, the ruins have been preserved as a historical park and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Borobudur Temple Compounds are Buddhist temples located in Central Java, Indonesia. The main temple is located on the top of Mount Ratu Sari and is made up of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. It is the world’s largest Buddhist temple and one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1991.
Hwangnyongsa Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Gyeongju, South Korea. It was built in 645 during the Unified Silla period and destroyed during the Japanese invasions in 1592 as part of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s campaign to eradicate Buddhism in Japan. The temple was rebuilt in 1608 and renovated numerous times over the years. It was designated as a National Treasure of Korea in 1962 and a World Heritage Site in 1995.
The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are rice paddies located in Ifugao State, Philippines. They were built by ancient people over 1,400 years ago through very hard labor and great skill, using no mechanical equipment whatsoever. These terraces are created without mortar or concrete, just by digging holes into the mountainsides, planting seeds, and letting them grow naturally. There are some guest houses on top of these terraces where you can stay for free when visiting them!
Ayutthaya is a historic city that was the capital of Thailand from 1351 to 1767 CE. The city was based on four separate towns laid out according to directional principles; the north town (today’s Phra Nakhon), west town (today’s Bang Pa-In), east town (Muang Boran), and south town (Muang Thai). It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991 due to its well-preserved ancient temples, palaces, and city walls which testify to Ayutthaya’s former importance as an economic, social, and political center of Thailand.
The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous man-made structures in the world; it stretches for approximately 21,000 km (13,000 miles) from Shanhai Pass to Jiayu Pass on its eastern end, making it the longest structure on earth in terms of distance. It was built over 2,000 years ago and used to protect China from outside threats; today it has become one of China’s most recognizable symbols. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
As you can see, Asia is a vast continent with many beautiful landmarks that are worth visiting. If you plan on going to Asia on holiday, then make sure to visit some of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will not regret it!
