The Most Beautiful Destinations In Asia
By chili, August 10th 2009 in Travel Destinations Comments (18)
Asia, the world's largest continent, is home to some most spectacular places on earth, ranging from ancient temples to exotic islands. Selecting the best of the best is a tough task and the outcome will most probably stir controversy among those Asia visitors whose well-defined lists of faves are poles apart with the following. But, like in "The most beautiful places in Europe", you can share you own (but all the same fantastic!) picks with the readers.
1. Mongolia
Mongolia, Gobi Desert. By php
Mongolia, with its vast, intact, and rough landscape, is considered by Lonely Planet to be one of the last unspoiled travel destinations in Asia. The country is located on the Central Asian plateau and it takes up 1.5 million square kilometers. It is the world's nineteenth largest state, but its population is very small - the country is home to around 2.9 million people, and around 40% of Mongols live in the capital - Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia by abate busoni
Mongolia's geography is diverse and beautiful. The Gobi Desert, the biggest desert area in Asia, spreads in the south, and the mountain ranges cover the northern and western parts of the country. Mongolia's climate is harsh during winters (down to -40 °C) and extremely hot in summers (30°C). The country is home to a huge population of horses (more than 3 million), which outnumbers Mongolia's human population.
Mongolia. By Michael Foley Photography
2. Thailand
Koh Lipe. Thailand. By captainblackadder
Millions of tourists cannot be wrong - Thailand in one of the most beautiful Asian destinations in terms of landscapes, people's hospitability and the richness of culture.
Exotic, lush islands surrounded by azure waters of the Andaman Sea from the west and the Gulf of Thailand from the east are excellent diving and snorkeling destinations as well as one of the world's most popular vacation spots.
Bu Islands at Kata Beach Phuket, Thailand. By Rene Ehrhardt
The wonders of Thai's old and rich culture can be spotted at every step of the way in the country. The beautiful and colorful Buddhist temples called wats
sprinkle the country and the scent of Thai's excellent cuisine fills the air with the aroma of chilies, lemon grass and coconut milk.
Thailand is fully devoted to Theravada Buddhism, the national religion practiced by 95% of all Thais.
Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai, Thailand. By Taiger808
3. Tibet
U Tsang, Tibet. By reurinkjan
Tibet, the roof of the world, with its average elevation of 4,900 meters (16,000 ft), is the mountain land covered by Himalayas towering proudly above the magical landscape. Tibet is a truly spiritual place in terms of both the nature and religion. The incredible Tibetan monasteries fit perfectly into the remote and beautiful surroundings.
Yamdrok Tso Lake, Tibet. By Mel F
Tibet houses the highest world's mountain - Mount Everest (8,848 m), which is located on the Nepali border. The Tibetan land is also dotted with turquoise high-altitude lakes called tso or co .
Tibet's history begins in seventh century when Songtsan Gampo founded the Tibetan Empire. Today the region is controlled by People's Republic of China that enforced its claim on Tibet in 1950. China set up the Tibet Autonomous Region that covers about half of cultural Tibet and other areas were incorporated into nearby provinces of PRC.
Tibet. By ~FreeBirD~
4. Angkor. Cambodia
Angkor Wat. Cambodia. By flydime
Angkor in Cambodia is a spectacular religious complex featuring the world's largest religious building, Angkor Wat. The temple was constructed between 1113 and 1150 by King Suryavarman II as a funerary temple - the complex is orientated towards the west, the symbolic direction of death.
The ruins of Angkor, which comprised around 1,000 temples, are located on a 3,000 square kilometer site - it was the largest preindustrial city in the world that could have supported the population of one million people.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia. By tajai
Angkor amazes with its magnificent beauty and breathtaking architecture. The whole complex was built between 802 and 1120 by the Khmer civilization. Today visitors can admire around 100 temples - the spectacular remains of a huge religious and social complex.
Ta Prom. Angkor Wat. Cambodia. By TaylorMiles
5. The Maldives
Maldives from the air. By sleepychinchilla
The Maldives is the pearl of Asia. This shinning azure jewel is located southeast of India in the middle of crystal waters of the Indian Ocean. The country is comprised of twenty-six atolls featuring 1,192 islets.
It is a heaven on earth for honeymooners, divers, surfers and holiday makers. The landscape is lush, exotic and unbelievably beautiful.
Dhonveli Beach, Maldives. By sleepychinchilla
Most of the coral islands are uninhabited. The abundant marine life, sandy beaches and warm waters attract thousands of visitors a year, but still many places and beach resorts remain remote and unspoiled getaways.
The Maldives is the smallest Asian state by both population (309,000 residents) and area (298 km2 ). It is also the lowest country in the world, with the average natural ground level of 1.5m above the sea level. Due to the global warming and a rise in sea level, the Maldives may, sooner or later, disappear from the world's map.
Maldives. By daniel pozo
6. The Great Wall. China
Great Wall, China. By Christopher Chan
The Great Wall is...great. It is one of the most unique constructions in the world and a must-see site for visitors to China. The first fortifications defending the borders of Chinese states had started to emerge in the fifth century BC. In 221 BC Qin Shi Huang unified all separated Chinese states and ordered the construction of a new wall to connect the old fortifications with the wall protecting the borders of the new empire.
Great Wall, China. By franz88
The Great Wall stretches across the country's landscape, passing by the deserts, mountains, grasslands, and plateaus, from the Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. It is around 6,400 km (4,000 miles) long and the entire wall with all its branches measures 8,851 km (5,500 miles).
Great Wall, China. By betta design
7. Sri Lanka.
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. By muhuns19
Sri Lanka, with its exotic beaches, green tea plantations and tropical forests, is one of the most astonishing places in Asia. It is an island country located about 31 km off the southern coast of India.
The lush tea plantations are among the most dazzling sights here. The history of Ceylon tea begins in 1869 when the coffee rust had devastated the coffee plantations on the island. As a result the plantations' owners decided to cultivate tea to diverse the crops. By the late 1880s almost all the coffee fields had been converted to tea.
Sri Lanka. By ColbyOtero.com
Today the tea plantations cover 4% of the island's area (around 221,000 hectares). The main tea growing regions are the Central Province, the Uva Province, the Southern Province and the Sabaragamuwa Province. Nuwara Eliya, one of the most important tea growing places, which lies in the Central Province, produces a unique tea flavor.
Aluthgama Beach, Sri Lanka. By cpathirana2002
And that's all folks as far as my choices go. What about yours?
Stumble
This is my fave of the moment, Hong Kong Skyline:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/homdaum/3715713489/in/set-72157621098807483
www.moodtotravel.blogspot.com
It's difficult to decide the most beautiful places in Asia. There's just too many choices....
http://top10philippines.blogspot.com
Coming from Sri Lanka I have to say it is an amazing place to grow up. And some of the best places haven't been mentioned here. Including Arugam Bay, one the worlds top ten surfing spots that lies on the east side of the island. Coming out from a 30 year civil war, great things lie ahead for this island nation.
I've been to all above apart from the Maldives an must say they are all stunning for different reasons. Mongolia is a true get away from It all place, rumbling along the steppe in a Russian van for a couple of weeks, staying with nomadic families is an experience is truley unforgettable. Thailand never fails to dissapoint but hard to get off the tourist trail. Tibet has some stunning scenery, everest base camp is a must. Cambodia is one of my favourite countries an rivals Thailand for it's temples, beaches and lovely people, you can still get off the tourist trail, sen monorom an the eastern side of the country are still unspoilt, but changing fast. Sri lanka has some great wildlife an unspoilt jungle, amazing temples and great beaches on the south coast. China is huge and the people are friendly and fascinating, some great scenery, temples and culture to be found. My suggestion visit them all but if you can only visit one, Cambodia is my choice.
Why no mention about India, especially Kerala. Kerala known as Gods own country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala
Why not Kashmir, India
u should add the name " BANGLADESH". hear u found the Biggest beach in the World,name - Coxs Bazar , the Mangrove forrest Sundarban and many other beautiful place...............
what about Nepal
?
?
The top 9 mountains peak including Everest,Lumbini
And what about Langkawi
By the way, there are many beautiful places in Iran.....
This is nice collection of the different beautiful places.I like the especially Thailand.I wish to go there.
Karachi Hotel
Wow, so many beautiful places on earth. How I wish I could visit all of them. I'm from Maldives and I'm glad that it was included on the list. Maldives has great white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and plenty of coral formations and wrecks to discover.
Maldives Dive Travel
Wow, so many beautiful places on earth. How I wish I could visit all of them. I'm from Maldives and I'm glad that it was included on the list. Maldives has great white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and plenty of coral formations and wrecks to discover.
Maldives Dive Travel
Maldives is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I hope I can visit the place together w/ my family and friends. It is a great place to enjoy vacation. blue taj hotel
Darjeeling comes amongst one of the most beautiful Mountain holiday spot where you find the champagne of Virgin Organic Tea grown in the hills facing the Majestic Mount Kanchanjungha and Everest ridges that can be enjoyed by riding the Heritage Steam Train still climbing the 7000 ft uphill mountains at Ghoom surrounded by Birches and lush green tea gardens (drink real tea fresh from garden) and of course the pleasant cool climate to soothe you and your companions. Once founded and enjoyed the British people.
Mongolia is the most beautiful and undescovered, wild country. Whoever love to travel and want to discover untouched place, I would recommend Mongolia
I live in London and have visited India and Pakistan. I think Pakistan should be named the beautiful country of the world. It is a piece of land where beauty is scattered around and capital, Islamabad Ahh! Beeyoutiifullllllll!
lots of places in india rajasthan ask me i wil tell you