When traveling, one of the most fascinating types of architecture to view is religious structures. One example is the structures of Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the biggest religions in the world. It has had a huge influence on particular regions in the world, including East Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. Sakyamuni Buddha founded the religion of buddhism around 400-500 BC. His life started in Lumbini, and he was heir to the King of Sakya, known today as Nepal. There are two main “schools” of Buddhism, which influence various aspects of the religion, including its architecture. Those schools of thought are Theravada and Mahayana.
There are several renowned Buddhist structures throughout the world that you should consider visiting during your travels. One example is the Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho, which is located in Bangkok. Thailand. It is perhaps the world’s biggest reclining Buddha. Meanwhile, the Spring Temple Buddha located in Henan, China is the world’s tallest statue at 128 meters high. There are several Buddhist statues in Japan, but the Daibutsu in Nara is the biggest Budda statue in the entire country. Finally, there is the Leshan Giant Buddha located in Sichuan, China. It included in a World Heritage Site.
There are several notable Buddhist architectural structures located in South Asia. One of the most important ones in India is the Bodh Gaya, located in Bihar. This was where the Buddha Sakyamuni was able to achieve enlightenment. Next, the Taxila in Panjab, Pakistan is a major Buddhist site. Several significant relicts that originated from the Buddha are located there. They include teeth, pieces of bone, and several monasteries. Meanwhile, one of the most sacred locations for Buddhists is the Taktshang Monastery, located in Bhutan. Finally, there’s the Sarnath located in Uttar Bradesh. This is where the Buddha taught the Dharma for the first time.
Finally, there are the Chinese Buddhist grottoes. One example is the Hungang Grottoes in the province of Shanxi. There are over 51,000 Buddhist carvings located there, which date back more than 1,500 years. The carvings are located in the deep regions of the mountainsides of Yangang Valley. There’s also Maijishan National Park. There are several cave carvings located there on the mountain’s face. They are of the Budda. Next, the Mogao Caves in the province of Gansu contain art and documents created in the 300s AD.
Today, it often seems that our lives are often too busy for religion. However, visiting one of the various types of religious architecture can give us a new perspective about the meaning of life. That includes one of the many famous Buddhist structures around the globe. Even if you are not Buddhist or even religious, you can certainly enjoy the majesty and meaning of these structures. Before your international travels, do your homework to learn if any of these religious structures will be nearby. They can certainly help to make your travels complete. Whether they’re grottoes, temples, or statues, you’ll certainly have a better understanding of life’s biggest questions.