Sacred Places: The most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world

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Asian religions and practices, and Buddhism in particular, have a strong influence over the west nowadays. People practice Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki and other such activities, which can seem like mere sports to the uninitiated, but which always imply a strong spiritual involvement as well.

Whether or not you believe in the powers of meditation and spiritual balance, or Buddhism in general,  it is undeniable that religious sites fill you with a sense of peace and quiet, and if they are beautiful and surprising, then all the better. Add some Zen to your life by visiting these amazing Buddhist temples.

Ginkaku-ji, Japan

Ginkaku-ji temple in Kyoto, also called the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is a wooden Zen temple which is a perfect example of architecture during the Muromachi period. Initially, it was supposed to be a retirement villa and garden for Ashigaka Yoshimasa, a shogun, but after his death it became a temple.

It is called the Silver Pavilion because the plan was to cover it completely in silver foil, but the shogun died before accomplishing this and the temple remained as Yoshimasa last saw it. The two story temple is breath-taking, but the surrounding gardens, designed by the famous landscape artist Soami, are even more so.

Ta Prohm, Cambodia

This temple was built in the 12th century, so if you think that it looks a bit crumbly, it is completely justified. Despite its ruin-like state, it’s easy to glimpse the former glory of the place and imagine what it looked like in the Middle Ages. The Khmer king Jayavarman VII founded it to serve as a Buddhist monastery and university.

Unlike many other temples in Angkor, Ta Prohm was not restored even the least bit, and the trees growing between the ruins just make the mysterious atmosphere of the temple even more alluring. There aren’t many basreliefs at Ta Prohm, and it is believed that they have been destroyed by Hindu iconoclasts.

Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal

Boudhanath is the largest stupa in Nepal, and one of the most interesting attractions in Kathmandu, and Tibetan Buddhists consider it the holiest temple outside of Tibet. It was built in the 14th century, and it has always been an important religious and pilgrimage site.

Both the interior and the exterior of the temple is replete with Buddhist symbolism; for example, from above the building looks like a giant mandala, and the nine levels of the temple symbolize the legendary Mount Meru, the center of the universe. During the Tibetan New Year, the largest celebration in Nepal takes place at the stupa.

Ivolginsky Datsan, Siberia

Ivolginsky Datsan is the largest and most important Buddhist temple in the entire Russia, but that’s not the most interesting fact about it. The temple actually holds the preserved body of Khambo Lama, who died in 1927, and whose corpse it still sitting upright in the lotus position, and scientists still cannot explain why his body is so exceptionally well preserved.

The temple is located in a verdant valley in East Siberia, close the Lake Baikal, and it is part of a larger temple complex. During the seven days when the body of the Khambo Lama is displayed, the temple is simply swarming with pilgrims and visitors.

Wat Benchamabophi, Thailand

Wat Benchamabophi is one of the most beautiful Wat in Thailand, and its most distinguishing trait is the fact that it eas built out of white Carrera marble from Italy. As far as temples go, this one if fairly new (it was built in 1899), and even nowadays it is an important centre for learning for Buddhist monks. It is interesting to note that the smaller buldings around the temple combine European and Asian styles.

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