10 Most Famous Buddhist Temples in the World

BY MONEYCONTROL NEWS

May 23, 2024

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

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Though originally built as a Hindu temple in the 12th century, Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument, transitioned to a Buddhist temple by the 14th century.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, India

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Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple complex located in Bodh Gaya, India. It is one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, as it is the place where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

Todai-ji Temple, Nara, Japan

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Todai-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple complex located in Nara, Japan. It is one of the most famous temples in Japan, and is known for its massive bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana.

Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka

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Dambulla Cave Temple is a Buddhist temple complex located in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most significant cave temples in South Asia, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Swayambhunath Stupa, Nepal

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Swayambhunath Stupa is a Buddhist temple complex located in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Nepal, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tiger Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), Bhutan

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Tiger Nest Monastery, also known as Paro Taktsang, is a Buddhist monastery located in Paro, Bhutan. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bhutan, and is perched on a cliffside at an altitude of 900 meters

Wat Phra Kaew Bangkok, Thailand

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Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is a Buddhist temple complex within the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It's considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country.

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

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The Shwedagon Pagoda is a towering golden stupa that is the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar. The stupa is believed to enshrine eight strands of hair of the Buddha, and it has been a pilgrimage site for centuries.

Kinkaku-ji Kyoto, Japan

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Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple is famous for its gold leaf-covered pavilion, which reflects beautifully in a pond.