Buddhism is a major world religion and philosophy founded in northeastern India in the 5th century BC. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as “The Buddha”, who was born in what is today Nepal.
Buddhism takes as its goal the escape from suffering and from the cycle of rebirth: the attainment of nirvana. There are between 230 million and 500 million Buddhists worldwide. An overview of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world.
10. Haeinsa Temple
Haeinsa (Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea) is one of the most important Buddhist temples in South Korea. The temple was first built in 802 and rebuilt in the 19th century after Haiensa was burned down in a fire in 1817. The temple’s greatest treasure however, a complete copy of the Buddhist scriptures (he Tripitaka Koreana) written on 81,258 woodblocks, survived the fire.
9. Wat Arun
Situated on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River , Wat Arun (“Temple of Dawn”) is one of the oldest and best known landmarks in Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Buddhist cosmology. Despite it’s name, the best views of Wat Arun are in the evening with the sun setting behind it.
8. Pha That Luang
Located in Vientiane, Pha That Luang (“Great Stupa in Lao”) is one of the most important monument in Laos. The stupa has several terraces with each level representing a different stage of Buddhist enlightenment. The lowest level represents the material world; the highest level represents the world of nothingness. Pha That Luang was built in the 16th century on the ruins of an earlier Khmer temple. The temple was destroyed by a Siamese invasion in 1828, then later reconstructed by the French in 1931.
7. Jokhang
The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the most important sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism attracting thousands of pilgrims each year. The temple was constructed by King Songtsän Gampo in the 7th century. The Mongols sacked the Jokhang temple several times but the building survived. Today the temple complex covers an area of about 25,000 square meters.
6. Todaiji Temple
Todaiji (“Great Eastern Temple”) in Nara is one of the most historically significant and famous Buddhist temples in Japan. The temple was built in the 8th century by Emperor Shomu as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan. Today little remains of the original buildings of Todaiji.
The Daibutsuden (“Great Buddha Hall”), dates for the most part from 1709. It houses one of the largest Budha statues in Japan and is the worlds largest wooden building, even though it is only two-thirds the size of the original structure.
5. Boudhanath
Located in a suburb of Kathmandu, Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world. It is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal and many refugees from Tibet have settled here in the last few decades.
It is probably best known for the Buddha eyes that are featured on all four sides of the tower. The present stupa is said to date from the 14th century, after the previous one was destroyed by Mughal invaders.
4. Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi (Great Enlightenment) Temple is a Buddhist stupa located in Bodh Gaya, India. The main complex contains a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment and is the most sacred place in Buddhism. About 250 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment, Emperor Asoka built a temple at the spot. The present temple dates from the 5th-6th century.
3. Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda (or Golden Pagoda) in Yangon, is the holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma. The origins of Shwedagon are lost in antiquity but it is estimated that the Pagoda was first built by the Mon during the Bagan period, sometime between the 6th and 10th century AD. The temple complex is full of glittering, colorful stupas but the center of attention is the 99 meter high (326 feet) high main stupa that is completely covered in gold.
2. Bagan
Bagan, also spelled Pagan, on the banks of the Ayerwaddy River, is home to the largest area of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world. It was the capital of several ancient kings of Burma who built perhaps as many as 4,400 temples during the height of the kingdom (between 1000 and 1200 AD).
In 1287, the kingdom fell to the Mongols, after refusing to pay tribute to Kublai Khan and Bagan quickly declined as a political center, but continued to flourish as a place of Buddhist scholarship.
1. Borobudur
Located on the Indonesian island of Java, 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta, the Borobudur is the largest and most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash.
stewart stockdale says
I`v been to lots of Buddhist temples over the years, in many countries. I have to say that Borobudur was an incredible experience.
vandana says
I think Bagan is the most amazing as it is a collection of so many small and big temples. And it is also situated in a green environment which also makes it special.
Tiago says
I really desagree with this list. The second position is not a temple, but an old city. So it doesn’t count. Swedagon is beautifull, but a lot of temples in Thailand are much better, including Wat Arun that should be in the top 3. I missed the chinese temples, there are no one. Why?
Oh, and Mahabodhi should be in the first place, not only 4th. It is simply the most important buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. My top 3 would be: 1. Mahabodhi; 2. Borobudhur; 3. Wat Arun.
Thihazaw says
I am a traditional Buddhist from Burma. I don’t know other temples but I always go to Shwedagon Pagoda. When I go there, I can find peace of mind. If you respect Buddhism, you should also try meditation! From meditation, u can find peace, what is real and what is not real in your body and mind. When you go to Myanmar, please not only visit temples, also visit meditation centers.
buddha says
Boudhanath is not a temple ! its were they keep a fragment of buddhas bone! So its a stupa!
Jose Barreo says
Have you seen the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion being built in Australia. It is amazing
pratik jagtap says
AMAZING TEMPLES…
this is really buddhas world……!!
Mary @ Green Global Travel says
Beautiful article and images! Thank you! I have had the opportunity to visit some and still aspire to exploring others, Bagan in particular!
Agness says
In my opinion, Borobudur is the most amazing one!
amelya says
thank you for thie very interesting site ! I visited some places and I was happy to find them here: Jokhang, Wat Arun, Boudhanath…..I would like to visit the othere too………maybe you organize a cultural tour……
Dharmpal Dhoble says
I am very thankful to all your team that you share these famous Buddhist temples pictures. but in the world having some more temples so please share that.
pranali surve says
I am very happy to see that all are acsepeting the buddhist religion and i am also b buddhist.
Thihan D says
What about The Temple of the Tooth Relic, in Kandy Sri Lanka. it holds the tooth of the Buddha. I am Sri Lankan, and i am Buddhist, and i was fortunate enough to visit that temple. its absolutely stunning.!
Junee Tandukar says
The places of Buddha really sets peace within us.