Visit beautiful temples in George Town, Penang

Around Penang Island you will find plenty of Penang Temples, Mosques and Churches from all faiths, Malay, Indian, Chinese and old Colonial Churches built during the British rule of the island. Below you will find the beautiful temples in Penang to visit.

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

Situated right across the street from Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple, Dhammikarama Temple is a Burmese Buddhist temple. It is interesting to visit it after visiting the Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple which is a Thai Buddhist temple and try to notice the differences between them.

This temple was built in 1803 and it now includes several statues and buildings. With splashes of colors and statues which feature mythical creatures, this temple is definitely one of the most beautiful temples in George Town, Penang.

Kek Lok Si

If you move away from the coastline towards inner Penang island, you will find this majestic castle-like temple featuring a 99-feet-tall (30.2 meter) statue of the Goddess of Mercy. With several different temple halls and walkways to link them together, the hodgepodge architecture (incorporating the best of Chinese, Thai and Burmese designs) reflects the amalgamation of different Buddhist sects, including Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism.

Yap Kongsi Temple

Just a few meters away from Khoo Kongsi Temple is the Yap Kongsi Temple. Built in 1924, this temple is also a clan house for the people in the Yap Chinese clan. The origin of the Yap clan starts in 439 BC when warrior Shen Zhu Liang defeated the troops of the Qin Dynasty. In return, Shen received a piece of land which was called the Yap district. He took the Yap surname and Yap clan was born.

The Yap Kongsi Temple’s architecture is impressive although the temple is a bit smaller than the others in this article. If you are planning to see the George Town street art or visit Clan Jetties of Penang, you should definitely visit the Yao Kongsi Temple too.

Wat Chayamangkalaram

Wat Chayamangkalaram is a Thai Temple in Penang famous for its large gold plated Reclining Buddha (not a Sleeping Buddha), which at 33 metres, is one of the largest in the world and not too easy to get the whole length in a photograph, as you can see below.

Hean Boo Thean (Kuan Yin) Temple

Hean Boo Thean Temple is one of the hidden gems of George Town. If you want to avoid the crowds from the more famous temples, a visit to Hean Boo Thean is a great opportunity to explore the Malay culture. Dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, this temple was built in 1972.

Also called the ‘floating temple’ of George Town, Hean Boo Thean Temple was initially much smaller (a shrine built on stilts) but it was fortified over the years to face the tides. Hean Boo Thean Temple is definitely one of George Town’s best temples.

See more: What to eat when traveling to Penang, Malaysia

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Explore the mysterious temples in India

India is a land of diverse culture and mystic charm and many travelers visit India every year to experience India's rich cultural heritage. There are several religious or holy places in India which have mysteries or unexplained stories connected to them. Below is list of mysterious tepmles you can visit in India.

Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam

Perched atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam resides the Maa Kamakhya Devi Temple, one of the most famous temples in India. It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the Indian subcontinent. The temple does not have a sculpture to worship, however, what it does have is the yoni or vagina of Devi Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, covered with a red silk sari.

Every year during monsoon, the goddess menstruates, and the temple is closed down for three days. It is also when the Tantric fertility festival or Ambubachi Mela is celebrated here, till the fourth day when the temple reopens. It is also said that the underground spring that flows in the sanctum of the temple turns red on these three days. Devotees are offered a piece of the red cloth used to cover the stone yoni during the days of menstruation as ‘prasad’.

Venkateswara Temple

South India, is an exquisite part of India. Which attracts tourists for their grandeur and natural beauty. The way coastal and natural hill stations are famous in South India. Tirupati Balaji’s temple is the most popular. Venkateswara Bhagwan is also called by many names such as Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivas.

Tirupati Balaji’s temple is in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is considered being India’s richest temple because here it is donated millions of rupees a day, and there is a tradition of donating your hair here. Apart from this, there are things in Balaji which are unique. This temple is in a list of top 5 mysterious temples in India.

Lepakshi Temple

Located in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, the Lepakshi temple is famous for its ‘Hanging Pillar’, literally. Of the 70 structured and carved pillars inside the temple, one does not touch the ground. Devotees regularly pass thin objects like clothes or papers from under the pillar to test the theory and be amazed. They even believe doing so would bring them prosperity. That is for another day to discuss but how the weight of the pillar could be supported without it touching the ground remains the real mystery.

Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

It is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The temple has what seem to be seven secret vaults. On the supreme court’s request, the committee overseeing the temple has opened 6 of those vaults unveiling ornaments of gold estimated to be worth over 22 billion dollars. Now the 7th vault has steel doors with no latches or bolts. It has carvings depicting 2 cobras. It is believed that the door is opened only by a secret chant and any other means would bring catastrophes. It is considered both a mystery and highly dangerous.

Brahma Temple

Brahma Temple is also in the list of mysterious temples in India, situated at the shore of Puskar Lake in Puskar, Rajasthan. This temple got its name on the name of Pushkar Lake. A long time ago, Lord Brama started a big Yagna at this place. Only couples can perform that yagna so, Brahma has to perform this Yagna with this wife. But at the time of Yagna Bramha wife did not arrive on time. So, Brahma did that with another woman named Gayatri Devi. As the Yagna begin Saraswati wife of Brahma arrived. Seeing another woman in her place, she became angry and she cursed her husband Brahma saying no unmarried men are allowed in this temple from now.

See more: The must-try desserts in India

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8 temples to visit in Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang, Laos was the former Royal Capital city and was designated an UNESCO world heritage site in 1995. The historic town contains French colonial architecture and more than 30 Buddhist temples, or wats, that welcome visitors and are home to monks and novices.

Wat Phon Phao

Wat Phon Phao is almost 2 miles (3 kilometers) northeast of Luang Prabang’s town center. It is a forest monastery that was home to famed and now deceased Buddhist abbot Ajahn Saisamut.

Wat Aham

Wat Aham’s sim, or ordination hall, was built in 1818. The first shrine on this site was erected in the 14th century to honor the two guardian spirits of Luang Prabang. These spirits are now said to live in the trees on the temple grounds.

Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat, or Temple of the Great Stupa, is ornate and very beautiful. It was originally constructed in 1548 and was restored in the early 1900s after being damaged by severe weather.

That Chomsi

That Chomsi is located at the top of Mount Phousi overlooking the Mekong. It’s a popular spot to hike in the late afternoon. Visitors are greeted at the summit with excellent views of the sun setting over the river.

Wat Pa Phai

Wat Pa Phai has a gold and red wooden fresco that depicts life in Laos in the 1800s. It was originally a forest monastery but the town of Luang Prabang has grown around it placing it well within the city limits.

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

Wat Mai, or New Temple, is one of the largest temples in Luang Prabang and dates back to 1780. Before it was moved to the Royal Palace Museum, the Phra Bang Buddha statue was kept here. The image is returned annually to Wat Mai during Lao New Year in April.

That Makmo

That Makmo’s nickname means Watermelon Stupa. The temple’s formal name is That Pathum, meaning Stupa of the Great Lotus. This short and stout stupa dates back to the early 1500s and its architecture is unique in all of Laos.

Wat Xieng Thong

Wat Xieng Thong lies at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Khan on the north end of Luang Prabang. The temple was built in the mid 1500s by King Setthathirath and functioned as a royal temple until 1975.

See more: 8 reasons why Luang Prabang is so hard to forget

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Top must-visit temples in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is a beautiful historic city in northern Thailand. It has amazing street food, great restaurants and bars, and a cute walled old town surrounded by what was once a moat. There are also an astounding number of glittering temples lining its ancient streets. It is hard to know where to start, so this is the list of the 7 most incredible Chiang Mai temples that you need to visit.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This Wat is located further west than the city walls, up the mountain named after the temple ‘Suthep Mountain’. It takes some time to get to but it is so worth it. The temple is located within Doi Suthep National Park which is a beauty in itself, with waterfalls sprinkled amidst the forest, traditional hill tribe villages dotted around, and many viewpoints overlooking this beautiful city, you can be sure to spend quite a chunk of your day here.

It is 30 baht entry to Doi Suthep and the actual temple is open from 6 am – 6 pm. Once, you have finished exploring the temple, you can take yourself outside and look out on the wonderful city of Chaing Mai from this mountain throne at 1,676 metres.

Wat Phra Singh

Thanks to a huge renovation in the 19th century, plus numerous licks of paint ever since, Wat Phra Singh stands as one of the most visually impressive temples in Chiang Mai. The main temple building is the star of the show, featuring those iconic slanted Lanna-style roofs and an intricately decorated façade that shines brightly in the sunlight.

There is also various stupas and pagodas dotted around the grounds, which are free to enter. Walking distance from Wat Chedi Luang in the Old City, our recommendation is to fit in both during a morning or afternoon sightseeing trip on two feet or tuk-tuk.

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang is one of the most famous temples in Chiang Mai. This approximately 600-year-old temple is one of the highest buildings in the old town. Built pyramid-like, it stands in the middle of the temple complex and can already be seen from afar. But also the other temples of the area are impressive. For example, here you will find a beautiful reclining Buddha and you can listen to monks praying. Above all, in the morning or in the late afternoon, you will experience an incredibly beautiful and tranquil atmosphere.

Wat Umong

Still standing after 700 years, Wat Umong certainly shows its age, despite numerous touch-ups over the years. The crumbling, weather-worn central stupa towers into the sky, set around a well-maintained tropical garden and smart-looking green lawns.

While the main stupa provides a neat photo-op, there is plenty more to do at Wat Umong; feed the fish and turtles in the garden’s main pond, walk around the ‘talking trees’ that offer words of advice (in Thai and English), and head underground to check out the series of ancient tunnels. Find it just beyond the airport, in the foothills of Doi Suthep Mountain next to the zoo.

Wat Suan Dok

You may have heard about the famous White Temple in Chiang Rai but you may not know that Chiang Mai has its very own version as well. It is located in between Chiang Mai University and Chiang Mai Old Town, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists to visit.

It may not be as spacious or extravagant as the white temple in Chiang Rai but Wat Suan Dok will not disappoint its visitors too. The temple is most visited during sunset as the stupas (Buddhist structure that looks like a pagoda) reflect the color of the sun, making the view stunning. The main shrine houses a large Buddha statue and a number of Buddha relics. There is a small admission fees to enter the main shrine but the exterior grounds is free.

Wat Lok Molee

Another visually striking temple in Chiang Mai is Wat Lok Moli, well-known for its three-tiered wooden roof and prime location very close to Chang Puak Gate on the north edge of the Old City. The main temple hall has been well-restored, although the weathered chedi at the back shows the temple's true age, dating back to around the 14th century. Although Wat Lok Molee is located very central, it is just hidden out of the way meaning most tourists miss it, allowing it to enjoy a little more peace and tranquillity compared to some of the city’s other temples.

See more: Chiang Mai – pretty little town in Northern Thailand

Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chaing Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai (1296) and should not be missed on any temple tour. In this complex there are several beautiful things to discover. Particularly impressive are the 15 elephant figures on the base of the large chedi, the lotus pond, an old beautiful wooden library and the Ubosot.

In addition, there are two important statues in Wat Chiang Man, the Phra-Sila statue and the Crystal Buddha, which are hidden behind a lattice window. This temple is located in the northeast of the old city of Chiang Mai and a visit is highly recommended.

Source Internet