What to See in Asia

The Swayambhunath Monkey Temple is a three-in-one attraction situated atop a grand hill west of Kathmandu. Exercise, spirituality, and wildlife viewing each play a role in the experience. A fixture in Nepal since the 5th century AD, visitors will climb their way up 365 steep steps to make it to the top, where they’ll be rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley. This sacred pilgrimage site features a stunning domed stupa and a collection of shrines and temples, each of the latter are exquisitely decorated with gold and colorful prayer flags. The complex is also home to a large number of monkeys, considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists.

Manjushree Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal, Phone: +977-98-65-71-37-43

Angkor Night Market is a charming food and shopping village near Sivatha Street. The first of its kind in Cambodia, and still the most visited, it provides visitors with an array of attractions and shopping opportunities. It features an eclectic mix of stalls selling everything from handicrafts and souvenirs to elegant silks, rice-art paintings, and leather carvings. The market is also home to several eateries and lounges, including the CoCo House, the popular Brick House Bar, and the Island Bar, where visitors can enjoy live music. A 3D movie about the scourge of land mines and the Dr. Fish massage are just a few additional highlights of this market.

Stung Thmey Village, Sankat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap 17259, Cambodia

In Chinese history, Beijing was an ancient capital and one of the most strategic cities in the country’s northern region, and the construction and expansion of the Great Wall of China was ordered by various rulers over the centuries. Beijing contains 327 miles of its 5,500-mile length and has long been considered the best place to admire the Great Wall as its most prominent sections are located within the city’s suburban areas. This includes the well-maintained Mutianyu and Badaling, the renovated Simatai, Juyonguan, and Jinshanling, and the more rugged Gubeikou and Jiankou.

Mutianyu Road, Huairou District, Beijing, China, Phone: +88-10-61-62-60-22

Built in 1957 and situated in Sha Tin, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is Hong Kong’s most iconic temple. Visitors will need to climb over 430 steep steps and a concrete pathway in order to reach the off-the-beaten-path complex. Along the way they’ll pass by an array of life-sized gold-painted Buddha statues. Once at the top, they can explore the five temples, four pavilions, and the pagoda, which each have varying numbers of golden Buddhas and other statues on display. This is also an excellent destination to enjoy panoramic views of Sha Tin and the New Territories as well as the chance to see a wild monkey or two.

Sha Tin, Lots 358-359, IN D D 185, Hong Kong, Phone: +852-26-91-10-67

Built in 1565 AD, Humayun's Tomb is the first consequential example of Mughal architecture in India. This impressive garden tomb was built by Humayun’s senior widow, Bega Begam, 9 years after he passed away. When visitors enter the tomb, they will find beautiful garden squares also known as chaharbagh connected by pathways. The tomb’s focal point is most assuredly the stunning, opulent mausoleum adorned with a double dome. There are also numerous gravesites of other Mughal rulers within the tomb, and Emperor Bahadur Shah II was the last person to be laid to rest here in 1957 AD.

Opposite Dargah Nizamuddin, Mathura Road, New Dehli, Delhi 110013, India, Phone: +91-11-24-35-52-75

The Lotus Temple, also known as mashriq al-adhkar, is a house of worship created by award-winning Iranian architect Fariboz Sahba in 1986. Like all Baha’í mashriqs, its design features nine sides, as the Baha’í believe in the mystical properties of the number nine, which subsequently creates the lotus look of the temple. It’s situated on 26 elevated acres surrounded by nine pools and encircled with red sandstone walkways. Its white marble edifice has a towering height of 130 feet and the temple complex consists of 27 independent marble petals assembled in groups of three, forming the nine sides and serving as entrances to the central space.

Opposite Dargah Nizamuddin, Mathura Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110013, India, Phone: +91-11-24-35-52-75

Probably the most notable tourist attraction in India, the spectacular Taj Mahal is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1632, Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, had this stunning white mausoleum made from marble and bejeweled with semi-precious stones for the burial place of Mumtaz Mahal, his empress and beloved wife. Today, it welcomes visitors to enjoy its splendor while unfolding the pages from the past. Beautiful picturesque descriptions reveal the history of this period and the facts about this architectural love story. Mumtaz’s tomb is the centerpiece of the 42-acre complex, which is set in magnificent formal gardens and features a guesthouse and a mosque.

64 Taj Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India, Phone: +91-52-22-30-70-37

The Bali Safari and Marine Park is the home of hundreds of extraordinary animals representing more than 100 different species including a few rare and endangered species such as the orangutan, the Komodo dragon, and the Bali mynah bird. As Indonesia’s leading wildlife conservation center, they welcome visitors into their park to enjoy one-of-a-kind animal encounters and experiences. They offer private safari trips in either a 4x4 Jeep or on the backs of elephants, which include a wild fine dining experience surrounded by such animals as porcupines, lions, and meerkats at the Tsavo Lion Restaurant. The park also has a state-of-the-art theater, the Bali Theater, and the Water Park and Fun Zone.

Nusa Dua, Jl. Pratama, Benoa, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia, Phone: +62-3-61-75-13-00