Temples and Mosques to see in Asia and the Middle East
Y’all. I have got an ITCH.
I consider myself an avid traveller and adventurer. I’m lucky enough to have had the opportunity to visit lots of beautiful countries, tour some amazing cities, and see some unbelievable landscapes.
But, I feel like my international travels have been exclusively in Europe. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE European culture, food, people, and there are so many amazing cities and stunning landscapes in Europe. However, I’m ready to go explorin’ out East, y’all!
I’ve been dying to go to Asia and the Middle East for a long time, but recently this craving has been hitting me HARD. Between my friend who went to visit her sister in Dubai and said it was one of the coolest places she’s ever been, to another friend who travelled throughout Vietnam and told me about how she lived like a queen for very little money, to ANOTHER friend who went backpacking around the Philippines for a month solo and had the time of her life, and lastly to ANOTHER friend who will be spending a month this summer working at a special needs orphanage in India through a school program, my itch to explore past the borders of Eastern Europe is stronger than ever.
Not only have I been hearing amazing stories from my friends about their travels, but OF COURSE Pinterest is also giving me some serious travel porn to get me inspired. I’ve seen so many pictures and read so many articles, especially of some UNBELIEVABLE temples and mosques around Asia and the Middle East that look absolutely incredible. I’ve started making a “wishlist” of sites in Asia and the Middle East that I really want to see when I *FINALLY* get to visit.
Here are the top 5 temples and mosques in Asia and the Middle East that are on my wishlist.
1. Jameh Mosque of Isfahān | Isfahān, Iran
I’ve been obsessed with Islamic architecture ever since I visited this unreal Moorish palace in Spain a few years ago. The colors, the intricate tiling, the signature arches….it’s absolutely stunning and so unique.
I came across this mosque in Iran that is said to be a masterpiece of Persian architecture. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site and looks absolutely breathtaking. Sign me up, please!
2. Kapaleeshwarar Temple | Chennai, India
A friend of mine who travelled around India told me about this Hindu temple, and since then it has been on my “list” (my Pinterest board, that is). It’s built in the typical Dravidian architectural style and has this unbelievably colored and ornate exterior covered with depictions of gods, demons, warriors and royalty. Kapaleeshwar honors the god Shiva, and has shrines dedicated to lots of other deities in the South Indian pantheon.
It’s a great, local temple that isn’t saturated with tourists. Plus, there’s lots of guided tours available!
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3. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
It’s all in the name when it comes to this mosque. It’s GRAND. GRANDIOSE. It’s the largest mosque in Abu Dhabi and a landmark of the UAE.
Ever since my friend returned from Dubai and Abu Dhabi with such rave reviews of the city, I’ve been itching to go see it for myself. I’ve got to save up the funds first, of course, because it is SUPER expensive over there. But when I do stop spending money on beer and concerts and finally save up enough money to visit, I will definitely be stopping at the Grand Mosque!
Plus, there are lots of Chennai to Dubai flights, so you could do a lil temple and mosque tour and visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai and then pop on over to Dubai and tour that wonderful city, and then make the short drive over to Abu Dhabi to visit the Grand Mosque!
Also something thing to note, with all of these temples and mosques, is to be dressed appropriately! I’ve read some comments from people saying they weren’t let in because they were wearing shorts, etc.
photo via
4. Angkor Wat | Siem Reap, Cambodia
I know this place is super touristy, but I’m still dying to see it. It’s the largest (402 acres to be exact) religious monument in the world, for crying out loud! Plus, it’s another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I really want to see as many of those as I can!
This temple was built in the 12th century by over 300,000 workers (and 6000 elephants 🙁 ). It is a national symbol in Cambodia, as well as it’s most iconic landmark.
Not only is it massive, but it’s also super detailed, which means you can spend the whole day wandering the grounds and noticing it’s intricacies. Such intricacies, for example, include over 3,000 heavenly nymphs carved into the walls. But don’t worry, it opens at 5am to give people the opportunity to watch the sunrise, so there’s plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny!
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5. Shwedagon Pagoda | Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Have you ever seen anything like this before?! Me neither, which is why I gotta go!
This gold, gilded stupa is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, and claims to be home to relics of 4 previous Buddhas.
I’ve read a lot positive reviews from people who have visited this temple; apparently it’s amazing. If you go late afternoon, you’ll see it change from golden to rose gold in the sunlight. It’s also recommended to get a tour guide to take you around because they give you lots of information about the history and design of the temple.
I can’t say for certain because I’ve never been, but this place just looks so peaceful. Like somewhere you can relax, take your time, and explore it at your own pace. I could be totally wrong, but it’s just so stunning in photos that that’s the vibe I get!
photo via
So there ya have it! Just a few temples and mosques I’m drooling over currently! I could probably go on and on about temples and mosques I want to visit all around Asia and the Middle East, and I’m sure I could find at least 5 PER COUNTRY, but this is just a little snippet of the amazing and beautiful sights they have to offer. I CANNOT WAIT to go explore them myself someday (soon)!
