Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
The golden stupa of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises almost 100 m (330ft) above its setting on Singuttara Hill and is plated with 8,688 solid-gold slabs. This central stupa is surrounded by more than 100 other buildings, including smaller stupas and pavilions.<br/><br/> The pagoda was already well established when Bagan dominated Burma in the 11th century. Queen Shinsawbu, who ruled in the 15th century, is believed to have given the pagoda its present shape. She also built the terraces and walls around the stupa.<br/><br/> The giant stupa has a circumference at platform level of 433 m (1,420ft), with its octagonal base ringed by 64 smaller stupas.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The most revered Hindu site in Nepal is the extensive Pashupatinath Temple complex, five kilometres east of central Kathmandu. The focus of devotion here is a large silver Shivalingam with four faces of Shiva carved on its sides, making it a 'Chaturmukhi-Linga', or four-faced Shivalingam. Pashupati is one of Shiva’s 1,008 names, his manifestation as 'Lord of all Beasts' (pashu means 'beasts', pati means 'lord'); he is considered the guardian deity of Nepal.<br/><br/> The main temple building around the Shivalingam was built under King Birpalendra Malla in 1696, however the temple is said to have already existed before 533 CE. In 733 CE, King Jayadeva II erected in its precincts a stone tablet which chronicled all the kings of Nepal, beginning with the sun god. During the Muslim raids of 1349 the temple was largely destroyed, but in 1381 Jayasinharama Varddhana of Banepa restored it. Further renovations were conducted towards the end of the Malla period, and the latest extensive improvements were made in 1967.<br/><br/> Since the temple's inception, all the rulers of Nepal have taken great pains to pay their respects to it, to make donations, and to finance extensions.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
The Kailasanathar (Lord of the Cosmic Mountain) temple is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and was built between 685 and 705 CE by the Pallava Dynasty ruler Rajasimha. Construction was completed by Raajasimha's son, Mahendra Varma.
Wat Phrathat Doi Saket is perhaps best known for the murals adorning the inner walls of the main viharn. Artist Chaiwat Waranon painted these spectacular murals in the early 1990s.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.
The Marble Mountains, about 7km (4 miles) south of Danang, contain a series of caverns that have long housed a series of shrines dedicated to Buddha or to Confucius.
Founded in 1827 by Phaya Singhanataraj, the Shan ruler of Mae Hong Son, Wat Chong Kham contains a 5 metre Buddha image known as Luang Pho To.<br/><br/> Once one of Thailand’s remotest provinces, Mae Hong Son is now readily accessible by air from Chiang Mai, as well as by a wonderful loop drive through Mae Sariang and back via Pai and Soppong– or vice versa. Singularly isolated, Mae Hong Son is not yet very developed. The townsfolk may be citizens of Thailand, but most are Shan, Karen, Yunnanese Chinese or Hill Tribes. The temples are Burmese in style, and the pace of life amazingly tranquil.
Legend attributes the first Buddhist doctrine in Burma to 228 BC when Sonna and Uttara, two ambassadors of the Emperor Ashoka the Great of India, came to the country with sacred texts. However, the golden era of Buddhism truly began in the 11th century after King Anawrahta of Pagan (Bagan) was converted to Theravada Buddhism. Today, 89% of the population of Burma is Theravada Buddhist.
With some 2000 religious sites - 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture, Kyoto is one of the best preserved and most culturally distinguished cities in Japan.<br/><br/> Among the most famous temples are Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain; Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion; Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion; and Ryōan-ji, famous for its rock garden. The Heian Jingū is a Shinto shrine, built in 1895, celebrating the Imperial family and commemorating the first and last emperors to reside in Kyoto.<br/><br/> Three special sites have connections to the imperial family: the Kyoto Gyoen area including the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Sento Imperial Palace, homes of the Emperors of Japan for many centuries; Katsura Imperial Villa, one of the nation's finest architectural treasures; and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, one of its best Japanese gardens.<br/><br/> The 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto' are listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. These include the Kamo Shrines (Kami and Shimo), Kyō-ō-Gokokuji (Tō-ji), Kiyomizu-dera, Daigo-ji, Ninna-ji, Saihō-ji (Kokedera), Tenryū-ji, Rokuon-ji (Kinkaku-ji), Jishō-ji (Ginkaku-ji), Ryōan-ji, Hongan-ji, Kōzan-ji and the Nijo Castle, primarily built by the Tokugawa shoguns. Other sites outside the city are also on the list.
Nikkō (日光市 Nikkō-shi, literally 'sunlight') is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists.<br/><br/> Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area.<br/><br/> Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikkō National Park and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.
A spirit house is a shrine to the protective spirit of a place. They are usually found in the Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location may be chosen after consultation with a Brahmin priest. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature house or temple, and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais.<br/><br/> Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park in central Thailand was once part of the Sukhothai Kingdom that flourished in the 13th and 14th century CE. The Sukhothai Kingdom was the first of the Thai kingdoms.
A spirit house is a shrine to the protective spirit of a place. They are usually found in the Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location may be chosen after consultation with a Brahmin priest. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature house or temple, and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais.<br/><br/> Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park in central Thailand was once part of the Sukhothai Kingdom that flourished in the 13th and 14th century CE. The Sukhothai Kingdom was the first of the Thai kingdoms.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Chanthaburi is celebrated across Thailand because of its heroic links with King Taksin the Great, the conqueror who fought back against the Burmese occupiers of Ayutthaya in 1767 and went on to re-establish Thai independence. Although Taksin only ruled briefly from his new capital at Thonburi (1768-82), his name remains greatly revered, and is commemorated across Chanthaburi in a number of shrines, monuments, parks and even a boat yard.<br/><br/> King Taksin (Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat; Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช; April 17, 1734 – April 7, 1782) was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom. He is greatly revered by the Thai people for his leadership in liberating Siam from Burmese occupation after the Second Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, and the subsequent unification of Siam after it fell under various warlords.<br/><br/> King Taksin established Thonburi as his new capital, since Ayutthaya had been almost completely destroyed by the Burmese. His reign was characterized by numerous wars, fought to repel new Burmese invasions and to subjugate the northern Thai kingdom of Lanna, the Laotian principalities, and a threatening Cambodia.<br/><br/> He was succeeded by the Chakri dynasty and the Rattanakosin Kingdom under his long time friend King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
Chanthaburi is celebrated across Thailand because of its heroic links with King Taksin the Great, the conqueror who fought back against the Burmese occupiers of Ayutthaya in 1767 and went on to re-establish Thai independence. Although Taksin only ruled briefly from his new capital at Thonburi (1768-82), his name remains greatly revered, and is commemorated across Chanthaburi in a number of shrines, monuments, parks and even a boat yard.<br/><br/> King Taksin (Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat; Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช; April 17, 1734 – April 7, 1782) was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom. He is greatly revered by the Thai people for his leadership in liberating Siam from Burmese occupation after the Second Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, and the subsequent unification of Siam after it fell under various warlords.<br/><br/> King Taksin established Thonburi as his new capital, since Ayutthaya had been almost completely destroyed by the Burmese. His reign was characterized by numerous wars, fought to repel new Burmese invasions and to subjugate the northern Thai kingdom of Lanna, the Laotian principalities, and a threatening Cambodia.<br/><br/> He was succeeded by the Chakri dynasty and the Rattanakosin Kingdom under his long time friend King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
The Devasathan or Brahmin Shrines are three shrines dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Ganesh and Vishnu. The shrines were originally built in 1784 at the same time as the Giant Swing (<i>Sao Ching Cha</i>) situated across the road. All were built on the orders of King Rama I.
Hyakki Yagyo, variation: hyakki yako, (lit. 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons') is a concept in Japanese folklore. It is a parade which is composed of a hundred kinds of <i>yokai</i> (supernatural monsters).<br/><br/> Legend has it that every year the yokai Nurarihyon, will lead all of the yokai through the streets of Japan during summer nights. Anyone who comes across the procession will perish or be spirited away by the yokai, unless protected by handwritten scrolls by anti-yokai onmyoji spellcasters.<br/><br/> According to the account in the Shugaisho, a medieval Japanese encyclopedia, the only way to be kept safe from the night parade if it comes by your house is to stay inside on the specific nights associated with the Chinese zodiac or to chant a magic spell.