18 places to discover
Bacolod Public Plaza is a historic urban park in downtown Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Located across from San Sebastian Cathedral, it was established in 1927 during the American colonial period. The plaza is known for its central gazebo/bandstand, century-old trees, landscaped gardens and paved walkways. It serves as the city's main public square and principal venue for the annual MassKara Festival.
Ban Tha Rae is a historic Catholic village in Tha Rae Subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province, northeastern Thailand, on the shore of Nong Han Lake about 21 km from Sakon Nakhon city. Established in 1884 by Vietnamese Catholic migrants with French missionaries, it is Thailand's largest Catholic community. Notable for well-preserved French colonial wooden houses and St. Michael's Cathedral, it is famous for its annual Christmas Star Procession.
Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga (Bhagavathy) located at Palappuram near Ottapalam in Palakkad district, Kerala. The temple is known for its traditional Kerala architecture and as the venue of the annual Chinakkathoor Pooram festival. Situated about 3 km from Ottapalam town, it is an important place of worship and cultural centre in central Kerala.
Gundicha Temple is a Hindu temple located at the northern end of Grand Road (Bada Danda) in Puri, Odisha, about 3 km from Shree Jagannath Temple. Built in Kalinga architectural style, it serves as the destination of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra. The deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra stay here for nine days. The temple is set within a walled garden complex and remains largely empty outside the festival period.
Haridra Nadhi Tank is a large temple tank located in Mannargudi, Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, adjoining the Rajagopalaswamy Temple. Spread over about 23 acres, it is regarded as one of the largest temple tanks in India and is fed by the Pamini River. The tank features stepped stone ghats and 16 pillared mandapams and serves as the sacred water body for temple rituals, including the annual float festival. It is a prominent cultural and architectural landmark of the town.
Kadammanitta is a small village in Pathanamthitta district in central Kerala, located near Pathanamthitta town. It is best known as the home of Kadammanitta Padayani, a traditional ritual art form performed at the Kadammanitta Devi Temple. The village is set amid paddy fields, coconut groves and low hills, and is also associated with the Malayalam poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan. It offers visitors a glimpse of rural Kerala culture and temple traditions.
Kamalalayam Tank is a large sacred temple tank located in the centre of Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, adjoining the Thiyagaraja Temple. Covering about 33 acres, it is regarded as one of the largest temple tanks in India. The tank is rectangular with stepped ghats on all sides and a shrine in the centre. It serves as the temple's sacred water body and is a focal point for festivals and daily rituals.
Matho Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Matho village, about 26 km southeast of Leh on the banks of the Indus River in Ladakh. Founded in 1410, it is the only monastery in Ladakh belonging to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. Notable for its hilltop location, ancient thangkas, museum collection, and the annual Matho Nagrang oracle festival, it offers cultural and architectural interest.
Ming Mueang Field is a large central public field and town square in That Choeng Chum, Mueang Sakon Nakhon, Sakon Nakhon City, northeastern Thailand. Located in the city centre near the city hall and Wat Phra That Choeng Chum, it serves as the main civic open space for official ceremonies, recreation and major festivals, most notably the annual Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival held at the end of Buddhist Lent.
Mokokchung Town is the headquarters of Mokokchung District in Nagaland, situated at about 1,325 metres in the Naga Hills. Considered the cultural and intellectual centre of the Ao Naga tribe, it is known for its scenic hill setting, traditional villages, and festivals. The town serves as a base for exploring nearby Ao villages, viewpoints, and museums, offering visitors insight into Naga heritage, architecture, and community life.
The Naga Fireballs Viewpoint in Phon Phisai District, Nong Khai Province, is a riverside observation area along the Mekong River known for the annual Naga fireball phenomenon. Located on the Thai-Lao border, it serves as a main gathering point during the end of Buddhist Lent in October when reddish fireballs are reported rising from the river. The viewpoint offers open river views and is central to the local Bung Fai Phaya Nak Festival.
Phodong Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in Phodong village in Mangan District, North Sikkim, about 28 km north of Gangtok. Built in the early 18th century during the reign of Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal, it belongs to the Karma Kagyu lineage. Perched on a ridge above the valley, it is known for its ancient murals, thangkas and annual Cham dance festival, and currently houses around 260 monks.
Ram Katha Park is a landscaped cultural park and open-air theatre located on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Developed by the Ayodhya Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh tourism authorities, it serves as a venue for Ramayana-based cultural performances, Ram Leela and festivals like Deepotsav. The park features manicured gardens, an amphitheatre stage and pavilions, offering visitors a recreational and cultural space near Ayodhya's major pilgrimage sites.
Sanam Na Mueang is a large historic public square in the heart of Nakhon Si Thammarat city, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Located on Ratchadamnoen Road in front of the former city hall and adjacent to the restored ancient city wall, it serves as the city's main ceremonial ground and public park. The open grass field is notable for its historical role, cultural events, and as a central recreational space for residents and visitors.
Spituk Monastery, also known as Spituk Gompa, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on a hilltop in Spituk, about 8 km from Leh in Ladakh, India. Founded in the 11th century and later restored in the 15th century, it belongs to the Gelugpa order. Overlooking the Indus River, it is known for its hilltop setting, ancient shrines, statues, thangkas, and annual Gustor Festival.
Thean Hou Temple is one of the largest Chinese temples in Southeast Asia, located on Robson Heights in Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur. Dedicated to Tian Hou (Mazu), the Goddess of the Sea, it was built by the Hainanese community between 1981 and 1987 and officially opened in 1989. The six-tiered temple combines modern architectural techniques with traditional Chinese designs, featuring ornate pillars, dragon motifs, and pagoda roofs, and overlooks the city skyline.
Thung Si Mueang Park is the large central public park in the heart of Ubon Ratchathani city, in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District. This historic open field serves as the city's main civic square and festival ground, known for its monuments including the statue of the city founder Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong, a large candle sculpture and golden fish. It is the primary venue for the annual Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival.
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a large historic temple tank located in Vandiyur, about 5 km east of central Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Constructed in 1645 by King Thirumalai Nayak, it is considered the largest temple tank in Tamil Nadu, covering about 16 acres. The tank features a central mandapa housing an idol of Lord Vigneswara and is linked to the Vandiyur Mariamman Temple. It is renowned for the annual float festival and its vast granite steps.