Temples
One of the rock temples in Ellora, Maharashtra.
A way to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
A street leading to Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi.
View of the Bagan plateau from the terrace of Shwesandaw temple. Old Bagan.
View from Shwegugyi Paya to Tabetkya Paya (in the foreground) and Ananda Pahto (further away). Old Bagan.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
Japanese temple. Darjeeling, West Bengal.
Buddhist monastery in Rumtek, Sikkim.
View of the Old Bagan. In the far right corner is Htilominlo temple.
View of the Old Bagan. In the fat left corner is Dhammayangyi Pahto.
A man praying in front of Mingalazedi temple (closed at that time). Old Bagan.
Ananda Pahto - one of the most beautiful and most famous temples in Bagan
Buddha statue in one of the rock temples of Ellora, Maharashtra.
View to the courtyard of Kun lam temple.
On the inner courtyard of the Kun lam temple.
Three nuns in theri typical pink robes in Shwedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
A courtyard in front of Swedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
Evening at Shwedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
Mahabodhi temple, modeled after the Mahabodhi temple from Bihar in India. Old Bagan.
On the inner courtyard of the A-Ma temple.
Stone stelas within the precincts of the A-Ma temple.
Nyatapola Temple, Bhaktapur.
Richly decorated portal of the Sulamani Pahto. Old Bagan.
Shwedagon Paya at night. Rangoon (Yangon).
Gawdaw Palin temple in the centre with two other stupas in the foreground. Old Bagan.
Wedding procession in Swedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
Kathesimbu stupa, Kathmandu.
Prayer wheels at Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu.
Entrance to a temple in Kathmandu.
Moon over Swedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
Kyaiktyio Pagoda at dusk. Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
Sunset over the Kyaiktyio Pagoda. Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
Burnese nuns in their typical pink robes in front of the Golden Rock on Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
A monk in front of the Golden Rock on Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
Pilgrims praying in front of the Kyaiktyio Pagoda on Mt. Kyaiktyio in Shan Stste.
Evening sun lights up the Golden Rock of Kyaiktyio with a crowd of man sticking their golden leafs to it.Women are forbidden to enter close to the holy pagoda.
Burmese pilgrims often spend many nights under the makeshift tents on the square in frint of the Kyaiktyio Pagoda. Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
The Golden Rock really looks like it is about to fall down the mountain. That it does not fall is reportedly thanks to the Buddha's strand of hair hidden below the holy boulder.
Shwedagon Paya with the surrounding shrines and pagodas. Rangoon (Yangon).
Rows of shrines and stupas around Shwedagon Paya in Rangoon (Yangon).
Procession of young girls making offerings at Swedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
Kyaiktyio pagoda overlooking the surrounding plains.
An alley with densely arranged golden stupas in Shw Inn Thein complex in Indein village. Shan State.
A view from traveller's oriental fairy tale - a forest of old, delapidated stupas with a mountain range in the background. Indein village, Shan State.
Yadana Man Aung temple in Nyaungshwe on Inle lake in Shan State.
Kuthodaw temple in Mandalay is called "the largest book in the world", because it contains marble tables with the text of the entire buddhist teaching canon (tripitaka) in 729 litttle shrines.
A picturesque collection of old, delapidated (and a few restored) stupas near Swe Inn Thein in Indein village, Shan State.
A row of old stupas near Swe Inn Thein in Indein village, Shan State.
Old stupas around Swe Inn Thein in Indein village on Inle lake.
Old stupas around Swe Inn Thein in Indein village on Inle lake.
Local woman among the old stupas near Swe Inn Thein in Indein village on Inle lake.
A wall of golden stupas line a path in Shwe Inn Thein in Indein village on Inle lake.
The most beautiful "street" in Burma - an alley in Shwe Inn Thein temple lined on both sides with golden, white and brick stupas. Near Indein village in Shan State.
The most beautiful "street corner" in Burma. Shwe Inn Thein near Indein village. Shan State.
Plaques commemorating founders, who paid for restoring particular stupas. Shwe Inn Thein near Indein village. Shan State.
An enormous size of an unfinished Mantalagyi paya in Mingun can be best appreciated when compared to people.
Mantalagyi paya in Mingun or rather what king Bodawpaya managed to build.
Young monk walking past the Kyautawgyi Paya in Amarapura near Mandalay.
Shemawdaw Paya in Bago with its height of 114m is the tallest stupa in Burma . It is 16 m taller than the Shwedagon Paya in Rangoon (Yangon).
Hieroglyphs cover the columns and walls of the temple of Ramzes III in Medinet Habu.
Hieroglyphs cover the columns and walls of the temple of Ramzes III in Medinet Habu.
Beautifully adorned columns in the temple of Ramzes III in Medinet Habu.
Beautifully adorned columns in the temple of Ramzes III in Medinet Habu.
Temple of Amun in Luxor.
Gigantic seated statueas in front of the pylons of the Amun temple in Luxor.
Temple of Amun in Luxor at dusk.
Temple of Amun in Karnak.
Statue of Ramses II in front of the main alley of the temple of Amun in Karnak.
Inside the temple of Amun in Karnak at night.
A part of the temple of Ramesseum (mortuary temple of Ramses II) in Luxor with Osiris columns.
Temple of Amon in Karnak after dusk.
Ramessesum. Luxor.
Ramessesum. Luxor.
The temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri just before the entrance to level three (then closed because of the works conducted by the polish archeologists).
An old Spanish church. Bohol.
Buddhist monastery in Gangtok, Sikkim.
The Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
The Golden Temple in the light of setting sun. Amritsar, Punjab.
The famous rock temples of Ellora where carved from a sheer rock from top down. In the background is the original level of rocks high above the current temple. Maharashtra.
Rock temples of Ellora in Maharashtra.
Rock temples of Ellora in Maharashtra.
Old catholic church in Kerala.
Adornments of the gopuram (tower) of Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Adornments of the gopuram (tower) of Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Adornments of the gopuram (tower) of Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Adornments of the gopuram (tower) of Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Colorful gopuram (tower) of the Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Famous seaside temples in Mahabalipuram are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Temple in Somnathpur, Karnataka.
One of the gopurams (towers) of Sri Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Sculptures on one of the world famous temples in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar (Punjab) at night.
Gopuram (tower) of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam - the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world,
Man sleeping under the magnificent sculptures in Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirappali.
On the way to the main sanctuary within the Golden Temple complex. Amritsar, Punjab.
Unusual juxtaposition of symbols - christian cross and a red star together on a church in Kerala.
Imam Mosque (Masjed-e Imam) in Isfahan in evening sunlight.
Beautiful Jame Mosque (Masjid-e-Jāmeh) in Yazd. Its image is printed on the Iranian 20 rial note.
Imam Mosque (Masjed-e Imam) in Isfahan in evening sunlight.
World famous glazed tiles from Isfahan at the entrance to the Imam Mosque.
Inside a small mosque in Tehran.
Beautiful Jame mosque (Masjid-e-Jāmeh) in Yazd. Its image is printed on the Iranian 20 rial note.
Zoroastrian temple, Yazd.
General view of the Angkor Wat temple in the morning sun.
Wide promenade leading to the famous temple of Angkor (Angkor Wat) is full of people since early morning hours.
Majestic towers of Angkor Wat at sunset.
Towers of Angkor Wat at sunset.
Towers of Angkor Wat at sunset.
Dark and atmospheric interior of Preah Khan temple.
A temple in Angkor.
Vat Haysoke temple. Vientiane.
Inside Wat Si Saket - the oldest and most beautiful temple in Vientiane is more than 2000 statues of Buddha placed in niches around the courtyard.
Wat Si Saket temple. Vientiane.
Inside Wat Si Saket - the oldest and most beautiful temple in Vientiane is more than 2000 statues of Buddha placed in niches around the courtyard.
Young monks in front of the royal temple Haw Pha Kaew (now museum). Vientiane.
Haw Pha Kaew temple (now museum). Vientiane.
Statues of Buddha around Haw Pha Kaew temple (now museum) in Vientiane.
Richly decorated entrance to Haw Pha Kaew temple (now museum) in Vientiane.
General view of Pha Tat Luang (Great Sacred Stupa) - the most important religious and national monument of Laos.
The entrance to a Kun lam temple.
A-ma Taoist temple dedicated to Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.
A-ma Taoist temple dedicated to Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.
Inside A-ma temple.
Inside the Kun lam temple.
Charming alley within the precincts of the Kun lam temple.
This deliberately designed hole in the wall allows to see the inside of a temple on Taipa Island.
Little Kam Fa Temple also known as Sam Seng to honor the Heavenly Empress Kam Fa, Kun Iam and Va Kuong. Coloane Island.
Swayambhunath stupa, Kathmandu.
The eyes of Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu.
Central spire of the Bodnath stupa with thirteen levels symbolizing stages of a path towards Buddhahood.
Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu.
The spire of Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu.
Tibetan monks resting under the Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu.
Nyatapola Temple, Bhaktapur.
Durbar Square in Bhaktapur with three level pagoda of Bhairava Nath Temple.
Small, but charming backstreet temple in Bhaktapur.
Gathering of women in front of one of the temples in Kathmandu during Teej Festival known also as "Festival of Women".
Small stupas near Swayambunath temple, Kathmandu.
Small stupas of the Sulamani Pahto. Old Bagan.
Gilded stupas and shrines of the Shwedagon Paya complex in Rangoon (Yangon).
Multitude of stupas, shrines, statues and towers in Shwedagon Paya complex in Rangoon (Yangon).
Kyaiktyio Pagoda at dawn. Mt. Kyaiktyio, Shan State.
Shwedagon Paya. Rangoon (Yangon).
A wealth of forms, colors and materials in Shwe Inn Thein near Indein village. Shan State.
The most beautiful "street corner" in Burma. Shwe Inn Thein near Indein village. Shan State.
Sunset over majestic towers of Angkor Wat.
Spiral cone shaped incenses from Kun lam temple.
One of the stupas of the Swedagon paya complex in Rangoon (Yangon).
Wisdom Eyes of Bodnath Stupa in Kathmandu.
Buddhist monk praying at Swayambunath Stupa in Kathmandu.
St. Paul's Cathedral - the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta, built in Gothic Revival style and consecrated in 1847. Calcutta, West Bengal.
Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth, Calcutta.
Mahabodi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar.
Buddhist monk praying at the Mahabodi temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar.
Buddhist monk praying near the entrance to the Mahabodi temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar.
Pilgrims prostrating themselves at the base of the Mahabodi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar.
Buthenese Monastery, Bodhgaya, Bihar.
At the colourful entrance to a small shrine in Varanasi.
Temples of Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi seen from behind the piles of wood gathered fur burning bodies, which arrive around the clock.
A group of colorfully dressed Indian women climbing stairs to the Lakshmana Temple - one of the most famost and best preserved temples of Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
Sculptures inside Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
A sculpture of Apsara fighting (?) a mythical Hindu lion Sardula between Khandariya Mahadev Temple and Jagadamba Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
Devi Jagadamba Temple with a sculpture of Lion and a King in the foreground. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
A lady praying in one of the many shrines of the Fushimi Inari Taisha temple complex in Kyoto.
Lanterns hanging around the Main Hall of the Yasaka Shrine. Kyoto.
View from the entrance gate of the Yasaka Shrine towards Shijo Dori - one of the main shopping streets of Kyoto.
Small and beautiful shrine in Gion area of Kyoto.
Church of St. Thomas in Chichicastenango.
Inside one of the pavilions of the Toji temple in Kyoto.
Washing hands in front of the Kyiomizu temple in Kyoto.
Old, dilapidated church in a small town in Guatemala.
The temple of Candi Sambisari near Prambanan lies five meters below the surrounding fields and was accidentally discovered by a farmer in 1966.
General view of the temples of Prambanan.
Bas-relief and one of the temples of the Prambanan complex.
Exquisite ornamentation on a temple in Prambanan.
A view from the VIshnu temple towards two vahana (vehicle) temples of Hamsa (swan) and Garuda (bird). Prambanan.
Sewu temple. Prambanan.
An actor on the stage of the open air theater with the temple of Shiva in the background. Prambanan.
The catholic cathedral of Jakarta.
The entrance gate (Kaminarimon) to Senso-ji - the oldest (founded in 628 a.d) and most important Buddhist temple in Tokyo (Asakusa district).
Ulun Danu Bratan temple on the lake Bratan. Bali.
Hozomon Gate and Five Story Pagoda of the Senso-ji temple complex in the Asakusa district of Tokyo.
Ulun Danu Bratan temple with mountains at the background. Bali.
Mystique, night scene of burning incense in front of St. Thomas church in Chichicastenango.
Ulun Danu Bratan temple with mountains and clouds at the background. Bali.
Min hall of the quiet Honzan Higashihongan-ji Temple about 600m west of the Senso-ji temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo.
Temple Luhur Batukau at the foot of the volcano Gunung Batukau. Bali.
Temple Luhur Batukau. Bali.
Temple Luhur Batukau surrounded by tropical jungle. Bali.
Tanah Lot temple - one of the most famous and most photographed in Bali.
Buddhist priests celebrate the coming of a New Year in the Zojo-ji temple in Tokyo.
Temple Ulun Danu Bratan with its eleven level Meru tower, Bali.
Buddhist priests celebrate the coming of the New Year in the Zojo-ji temple in Tokyo.
Temple Ulun Danu Bratan, Bali.
Little temple of Tin Hau (Goddess of the Sea) in Sai Wan on Cheung Chau island.
Elderly Japanese pay tribute to the fallen soldiers commemorated in the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
Crowd of people waiting to pay tributes to the Japanese fallen soldiers commemorated in the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
A group of pilgrims on the way to the inner temple (closed for tourists) of Pura Besakih, Bali.
A forest of multilevel Meru towers in Pura Besakih, Bali.
The most famous feature of Balinese temples - multilevel Meru towers.
A view of one of the inner courtyards of Pura Besakich - one of the most important temples in Bali.
Pura Besakih - a group of Meru towers. Bali
Meru tower above the roofs of temple buildings of Pura Besakih, Bali.
A street in the precincts of Pura Besakih, Bali.
Main entrance gate of Pura Besakih. Bali.
Huge Pura Besakih is a forest of Meru towers, gates and pavilions' roofs - one of the most beautiful lsights in Bali.
Luhur Batukau temple. Bali.
A Hong Kong Chinese temple with characteristic spiral incense cones.
Steps with the main entrance gate to Pura Besakih, Bali.
People praying in Pura Besakih. Bali.