Over centuries and centuries Southeast Asia has acquired many beautiful and awe-inspiring temples. The temples have been preserved for years as holy sites for believers. Even today many of the temples are still in use. These temples are an important part of the society as collectors of culture and art, religious values, and engineering feats.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World are the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. These temples were built in the 12th century as Hindu temples, but later they became Buddhist temples. The design and architecture of the temples reflect an earthly, miniature replica of the universe in stone. The complex here is still inhabited with many families being direct descendants of the inhabitants who lived here when the temples were built. Angkor Wat also holds many famous pieces of art from the Khmer Art period that ranged from the 9th century to the 14th century.
Bagan is an ancient city in Myanmar. The town is dotted with thousands of temples and pagodas ranging in size. Some of these temples are still popular while others have crumbled away. The temples were built through a range of centuries under many different rulers. The vast number of temples reflects the wealth and power Bagan had in its early years. Because of this the city became a center of Buddhism and hence the building of some many temples.
The Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bali is one of the many water temples in Indonesia, used to honor the water goddess, Dewi Danu. It is the second most important temple in Bali. Part of the mysticism is that the temple appears to be floating in the lake.
By no mean are these the only great temples to visit in Southeast Asia. There are thousands of them, well-known and unknown. Explore which ever ones you stumble across in your Asian adventures. They are sure to delight with their centuries of history, tradition, and artwork.
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