A temple that is on the list of every traveller, the World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat is a remarkable sight. It is one of the largest religious monuments in the world and one of the most spectacular temples in Cambodia, and yet somehow, this massive over 400-acre temple complex managed to lay hidden for several hundred years, only to be rediscovered by a French explorer who described it as “grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome”.
It is thought, the construction of Angkor Wat took 35 years, 300,000 labourers and 6,000 elephants, according to discovered inscriptions. It was,of course,built without the aid of mechanical machinery, as there was no such technology available at that time. The complex was built as a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, the sacred five-peaked mountain standing in the centre of the Hindu universe where it is said the three Hindu chief gods - Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer), and Hindu demi-gods (Devas) reside.
My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples in central Vietnam, a short drive from Hoi An and Danang. The complex, located in a lush jungle valley, was constructed between the 4th and the 14th century by the Kings of Champa, an Indianized kingdom of the Cham people and are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva. My Son was once the most important intellectual and religious centre of the Kingdom of Champa. It was rediscovered in the late 19th century by the French, who restored parts of the complex.
My Son is perhaps the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina, but sadly, a large majority of its architecture was destroyed by US bombing during a single week of the Vietnam War. Of the approximately 68 structures, around 20 have survived. Its UNESCO World Heritage status has ensured the ongoing protection and preservation of area.
Wat Xieng Thong is one of Laos’ oldest temples, constructed in 1560. Up until 1975, Wat Xieng Thong was a royal temple and the location where former kings of Laos were crowned. It is an important gathering place for significant national festivities. The original temple narrowly missed destruction during invasions and wars several times. It remains largely in its original form, but much-needed renovations took place during the 1960s, including repairs to the roof, gold leaf gilding and gold lacquering restoration.
While the oldest, it is also one of the most beautiful temples in Luang Prabang. The sweeping roofs of the ordination hall show the typical Luang Prabang architectural style. The front ends of the canopy are decorated with complex gold designs on a dark background. The columns are a rich lacquer-like black with gold stencilling. There is an elaborate tree of life mosaic, intricately carved walls, small halls and stupas that contain Buddha images and a 12-metre-high funeral carriage. Wat Xieng Thong is strategically situated close to where the Mekong joins the Nam Khan River, acting as a gateway to Luang Prabang itself.