Buddhism is one of the primary and oldest faiths in the world. It was founded in the mid-sixth and mid-fourth centuries BCE in India. It follows the pedagogy of Siddhartha Gautama. Also known as Buddha or Gautama Buddha, he was born in part between India and Nepal. He grew up in currently Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Its non-theistic nature has spread throughout Asian lands, influencing culture, art, and architecture. One of the best instances of their style mark is commonly seen in Buddhist temples. It is built upon the code of four noble truths that will ultimately show the freedom of the mind.
There is a great deal of variation among Buddhist temples, even the most traditional ones, depending upon the region where they are built. Meditation and quiet reflection are the hallmarks of the temples. Let’s find the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world.
A List of the World’s Most Beautiful Buddhist Temples:
- Shwedagon Pagoda
- Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet
- Todaiji Temple, Japan
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan
- Ulun Danu Bratan, Indonesia
- Taung Kalat, Myanmar
- Boudhanath, Nepal
- White Temple, Thailand
- Lama Temple, Beijing
- Mahabodhi Temple, India
- Pinyin Tian Tan, China
- Byodo-In, Hawaii
- Oeosa, Korea
- Seiganto-Ji, Japan
1. Shwedagon Pagoda
The Golden Pagoda or Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, is the holiest Buddhist Temple in Burma. There is no record of the origins of Shwedagon. But still, it is a belief that the Pagoda was built by the Mon during the Bagan period.
It was the time between the 6th and 10th century AD. The Shrine complex is full of colorful and glittering stupas. It is the hub of alert that is the 99-meter high (326 feet) gold-covered main stupa.
2. Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet
According to a legend, Yumbulagangwas the first ever built in Tibet. During the reign of Nyatri Tsenpo, it served as the palace of the first Tibetan king. The actual name means palace of mother and son in Tibetan.
However, this palace became an abbey of a global school under the rule of the fifth Dalai Lama. A cultural uprising damaged it severely and reduced it to a single story before being rebuilt in 1983.
3. Todaiji Temple, Japan
The most important Buddhist Temple in Japan is Todaiji Temple. Despite this, little remains today of the original design, which Emperor Shomu raised in the 8th century.
One of the Temple’s most vital buildings is the Daibutsuden – the Great Buddha Hall – the largest wooden building in the world. This memorial dates back to 1709 and houses one of the country’s giant Buddha busts.
4. Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan
The Paro Taktsang, which means ‘The Tiger’s Nest’, is located on a cliffside in Bhutan’s upper Paro valley. Located 3,120 meters above sea level, this Buddhist temple complex is built on the edge of a cliff. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated at this site in the eighth century.
To reach this Temple, you must hike for two hours through waterfalls, prayer wheels, and Tibetan teahouses. There are 13 small cloisters referred to as “Tiger Lairs” where the Buddhist master is believed to have meditated. Height can make the journey hard for some, even though it isn’t too tricky.
Visitors decorate their paths with ribbons and bunting to mark their holy trip to the Temple. When it burned down in 1988, rescue vehicles were unable to reach it because of its remote location. Despite this, the Paro Taktsang has been rebuilt and is now available to tourists. Read Also: 10 Most Popular Buddhist Sites in Bhutan.
5. Ulun Danu Bratan, Indonesia
Located at the foot of Bali’s active volcano Mt. Batur, these magnificent temples are a sight to behold. As the complex sits beside Lake Bratan, it reflects superbly on the water’s surface.
There is nothing like this Temple in this part of Bali, and its size makes it easier to visit without spending several hours. In spring, the mirror effect is spectacular, but it doesn’t last all year as the lake level fluctuates.
6. Taung Kalat, Myanmar
Mandalay’s Mount Popa is a volcanic plug (or neck) home to this Buddhist monastery. This is one of the famous pilgrimage destinations in Myanmar. It is one of the most prominent spirit zones in the vicinity of nearby Mount Popa. And is third believed to be a source of spiritual energy.
In order to reach Taung Kalat, you require to climb a 777-step hanging ladder. In addition, it also provides you with a unique view of the city of Bagan from the 4,980-foot-high mountain. Pilgrims visit the site to see the 37 nat statues depicted in their human forms and numerous relics.
7. Boudhanath, Nepal
Believed as one of the biggest stupas in the world. Several Tibetan refugees live in Boudhanath, a center of Tibetan Buddhism. Situated in one of Kathmandu’s outskirts, the shrine became iconic due to its Budha eyes united on each of the Temple’s four edges. Mughal invasions destroyed the previous structure in the 14th century, which was raised in the 14th century. Read Also: 10 Most Famous Buddhist Monasteries in Nepal.
8. White Temple, Thailand
It has been open to the public since 1997 at this lovely site in Chiang Rai. Chalermchai Kositpipat created the building of white plaster and glass to depict the Buddha’s purity. Featuring classic Buddhist themes and modern elements, this Temple is one of the most modern Buddhist temples in the world.
Current influences include Spider-Man murals, Michael Jackson murals, Hello Kitty murals, Mickey Mouse murals, and Superman murals. Sunlight reflects off of Wat Rong Khun, making it sparkle gloriously. In this Buddhist Temple, crystals mean the Buddha’s wisdom as they cover the entire building. It is under the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world you must see.
9. Lama Temple, Beijing
The Yonghe temple or Lama Temple is located in the North Eastern part of Beijing and is one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries over the globe. Chinese Emperors developed a deep interest in Tibetan Buddhism that paved the way for its construction.
Many Mongolian and Tibetan monks have taught and lived here over the years. This Temple has a 26 m-high statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of white sandalwood.
10. Mahabodhi Temple, India
Situated in Bodh Gaya, India, the Mahabodhi Temple is believed to be the most sacred place in Buddhism. There is a descendant of the Bodhi Tree, under whose roots Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment, located in the main complex of the stupa. The Mahabodhi Temple sits at the heart of Buddhism, so it’s no wonder it’s so revered.
Almost 250 years after Gautama’s enlightenment, Emperor Asoka built the present structures in the 5th and 6th centuries.
11. Pinyin Tian Tan, China
Located south of Beijing, this structure dates back to 1420 and is also called “The Temple of Heaven”. In a complex surrounded by walls, each building at each cardinal point serves a different purpose. On the northern side of the building is the Hall of Prayer for the Good Harvest (a magnificent building worth visiting at your leisure).
In the south, next to the Imperial Vault of Heaven, is the circular altar (where the circle represents the sky and the square base represents the earth).
12. Byodo-In, Hawaii
Located within the Cliff line Valley of shrines in Oahu. It is a replica of the 900-year-old Byodo-In, located in Uji, Japan. Within these cluttered parks and Koi pond is the Temple that houses a 9 ft Lotus Buddha.
In over 900 years, it is the giant carving ever carved. Lacquered in gold and adorned with a mysterious, peaceful smile, it wears the same look as all Buddhas. Behind the Temple is the Meditation House, which offers solitude and emits a deep tenor sound when struck by the 3-ton brass Peace Bell.
13. Oeosa, Korea
An artificial dam surrounds the Oeosa temple, best seen when the surrounding trees burst into fiery reds, yellows, and oranges. Asceticism was the study of two brothers trying to revive two dead fish that gave the area its name. The first fish remained dead, but the second fish miraculously awoke.
Since they were brothers, they fought over who brought back the fish – thus, the foundation of the Oeosa temple. The Dongjong bell within the Temple is considered a sacred treasure and translated as “My Fish.
14. Seiganto-Ji, Japan
Within the forests of Wakayama prefecture in Japan, the Seiganto temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple. This Temple was built in the fourth century, thus earning the name Temple of Crossing the Blue Shore. In 2004, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was designated as an example of a man-made structure that integrates with the natural landscape.
Standing in front of the stunning Nachi Falls, its strikingly red form is a lovely sight. There are 33 temples along the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage route, beginning with the Seiganto temple. The site is also home to one of the two UNESCO-designated pilgrim trails in the world, the Kumano Kod.
Summary,
The above blog mentions the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world that everyone must see. The buddha religion is widespread and is very famous all around the world. Then what are you thinking? Make the trip with your family to visit beautiful Buddhist temples in the world and enjoy the world.
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