10 EXCEPTIONAL TEMPLES

Chion-in Temple was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism.(above)

In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java.
What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur,
a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones.
The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. (below)

The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple in Punjab
is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism.(below)

The one below is the largest temple in history
and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.

Tiger's nest Monastery, perched on the edge of a 3000- feet-high cliff in Paro Valley in Bhutan

Wat Rong Khun (a Buddhist temple) in Chiang Mai, Thailand


Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia.
The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.

No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built.
Legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.

Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, China.
The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty.



The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world.
Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple - see below.
The last one is very special to me for two reasons.
1.Tiruchirapalli is my native place.
2.The Lord, Sri Ranganathaswamy, residing in this temple is God, Guide and Guardian to me.