When we travel, many of us hope to experience an exotic culture or visit a spectacular natural attraction. Often these are chosen based on recommendations from family and friends or may be long-awaited bucket list destinations. Little do many of us know, however, that the United Nations has already selected more than 1000 such sites, hundreds of which are in Asia. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are some of the most impressive destinations on Earth, and we’ll discuss some today that you may wish to consider adding to your next Asian adventure.
According to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, or the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the more than 1000 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites are broken into various categories; Cultural, Natural, and Mixed. There are more than 1000 worldwide, including 278 in the Asia-Pacific region: 196 cultural, 70 natural, and 12 mixed cultural-natural that can be found in and across 36 nations, as 5 World Heritage Sites cross boundaries between nations.
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Scott & Trevor’s Favorite UNESCO World Heritage sites:
According to UNESCO, in Bali, rice, the water that sustains it, and subak, the cooperative social system that controls the water, have shaped the landscape of the island for over a thousand years and are integral to religious life. Water from springs and canals flows through temples and out onto the rice paddy fields. Such water temples are the focus of a cooperative management of water resources by a group of subaks that, since the 11th century have managed the ecology of rice terraces at the scale of whole watersheds.
The overall subak system exemplifies the Balinese philosophical principle that draws together the spirit and human worlds to nature. Water temple rituals promote a harmonious relationship between people and their environment.
Such sacred sites as the Supreme Water Temple of Pura Ulun Danu Batur on the edge of Lake Batur whose crater lake is regarded as the ultimate origin of every spring and river, are both religious and practical sites, as well as places of exceptional beauty.
SCOTT: Borobudur Temple Compounds
This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java; not far from Yogjakarta. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s. It’s the largest Buddhist temple in the world and on some of TTA pages
Trevor: Town of Luang Prabang
Established in 1353 when a Lao Prince married a princess of Angkor, Luang Prabang was once the capital of the Kingdom of a Million Elephants. From the 14th to the 16th century, the capitol grew in wealth and influence thanks to its strategic location on the Silk Route. The city was also the centre of Buddhism in the region: in fact, Luang Prabang takes its name from a statue of Buddha, the Prabang, which was a wedding gift of the King of Angkor when the city was founded.
Luang Prabang is exceptional for both its rich architectural and artistic heritage that reflects the fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture with that of the colonial era. Its remarkably well-preserved townscape reflects the alliance of these two distinct cultural traditions.
However, there are some threats to the site due to the rapid development of the town and strong economic pressures, many of which are related to tourism (transformation of use of buildings, departure of residents, illegal construction).
Scott: Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. Through the efforts of many people, including those of the city of Hiroshima, it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons. It’s amazing along with other monuments and the museum – a really moving and reminder of what humankind is capable of.
Trevor: Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi
According to Unesco: The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.
For me, it was the whole history, which even predates the Vietnamese. This is the most recent one I’ve visited (except for Angkor, which I visit regularly): and it’s actually been a few years since I went, but I was impressed.
Scott: Kathmandu Valley
The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world famous. The seven include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan.
Trevor: Bagan – According to UNESCO: Lying on a bend of the Ayeyarwady River in the central plain of Myanmar, Bagan is a sacred landscape, featuring an exceptional range of Buddhist art and architecture. The seven components of the serial property include numerous temples, stupas, monasteries and places of pilgrimage, as well as archaeological remains, frescoes and sculptures. The property bears spectacular testimony to the peak of Bagan civilization (11th -13th centuries CE), when the site was the capital of a regional empire. This ensemble of monumental architecture reflects the strength of religious devotion of an early Buddhist empire.
Scott: Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.
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