by Peggy Tee

Created on: August 18, 2010   Last Updated: August 31, 2010

Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world by number of followers and has its roots in Asia. Founded by an Indian prince, Buddhism became a popular religion in the area, spread by travelling monks and without military conquest. Many Asian countries have a shared history in Buddhism, such as India, Thailand and Tibet.

Bangkok, Thailand

Frenetic, busy and hectic, Bangkok is a major Buddhist tourist destination and the capital of Thailand. There are numerous temples in Bangkok that are on the list of most Buddhist pilgrims, such as Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat Benchamabophit. The first of these three, Wat Traimit, is a spectacular Buddhist Temple surrounded by a large golden statue of Buddha. Wat Pho is also known as the world famous Temple of the Reclining Buddha, while Wat Benchamabophit is a Buddhist temple made entirely out of marble.

Uttar Pradesh, India

As the site of Buddhism’s origin, India is chockfull of holy places to visit. Uttar Pradesh, a region in India, is where Sarnath and Kushinagar are located, two holy Buddhist sites. Sarnath is where the Buddha first delivered his sermon after reaching enlightenment and in Kushinagar, he attained nirvana. The region is rich in natural beauty, and visitors can see tigers at the National Park of Dudhwa, as well we observe different migratory birds in the bird sanctuary. Uttar Pradesh is also located near the Taj Mahal, in the Agra region of India, and draws millions of tourists each year.

Lhasa, Tibet 

A Himalayan kingdom located near the roof of the world, Tibet is a popular Buddhist destination. Tibetan Buddhism is known as Tantric Buddhism, and deviates slightly from the main form of Buddhism practised in India or Thailand. Examples of Buddhist attractions in Lhasa are: the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monasteries.

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto was the ancient capital of old Japan, and the city is filled with beautiful old buildings. Fittingly, it is known as the “City of a Thousand Temples” and visitors flock here to see them every year. There are in fact, more than a thousand temples in Kyoto, along with a number of Buddhist universities where monks and nuns come to study. One of the most important temples in Kyoto is Chion-in Temple, the main sea of the Buddhist Jodo sects. The temple has a long history, having been rebuilt and destroyed multiple times throughout history.  The Sutra Library, located within the temple, houses a complete collection of the Buddhist Sutra, all 5,600 volumes.

Borobodur, Indonesia

Located in the middle of Java, the temple of Borobudur is a famous Buddhist travel destination in Indonesia. Built in the ninth century, the temple has long been a place for religious pilgrimage. The architecture of the temple reflects Buddhist teachings, and is meant to be a physical representation of the world, as Buddha envisioned it. Dotted with stupas and statues, Borobudur is still an active place of worship for Buddhists and forms the focus of the annual Vesak celebrations, which celebrates the birth, death and attainment of enlightenment of Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha himself. 

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