If you happen to be on a holiday in Laos, make sure you take a visit here. On stepping foot in the caves, you will be surprised by a spectacular sight – the caves are adorned with thousands of statues of Buddha, large, small, mid sized – there are statues all over.

Tham Ting – the lower cave . . .

Tham Ting is the lower cave, and this is open to the air. The cave can be reached by climbing for a bit from the banks of the river. The good visibility in the caves makes the wonders of the cave even more impressive.

The Buddha statues in the cave are smaller in size and are lined up in the nooks, the natural rock ledges and other areas in the cave. There is a shrine here with even more statues, where devotees kneel down and pray as well as place small offerings and incense.

The Tham Ting Cave is certainly one of the most rewarding experiences you could have while on a holiday to Laos. You will have an in depth view of the various aspects of the religious customs and beliefs of the Lao people.

Tham Phum – the upper cave . . .

Tham Phum is located higher than Tham Ting. You will have to climb a steep stretch of steps that lead to the cave. Make sure you carry a torch along with you when you come here, since the cave is set rather deep inside in the rock, and sunlight does not come inside.

Having a flashlight or a torch would make it easy for you to see the huge collection of Buddhas. A good number out of the total of four thousand statues in both the caves is housed in the Tham Phum. The Tham Phum is certainly worth the climb.

How to visit the caves . . .

A tour of the Pak Ou Caves is quite always part of the itinerary on any organized trip to Laos. The Caves are quite easily accessible even if you are traveling independently. Traveling by boat is the best option, since the caves are located close to twenty five kilo meters from Luang Prabhang. A number of tourist vessels set out in the morning, so it is easy to arrange a seat on one of these, or hire a boatmen privately any time in the day. The journey is about ninety minutes one way. The land option is also possible, although less scenic. You can catch a tuk tuk to the shore opposite and catch a ferry from there.

Bodhgaya was known previously as Bodhimanda, the literal meaning of which is “the ground beneath the Bodhi tree”. There are other names such as Uruvela, Sambodhi, Mahabodhi and Vajrasana also used to refer to this site. Along with Lumbini, Sarnath and Kashinagar, Bodhgaya is one of the four sites in India that are most important in connection to Buddhism. The UNESCO declared the Mahabodhi temple site a world heritage site in 2005.

The History of Bodhgaya . . .

The history of Bodhgaya is interesting. The Gautam Siddhartha, heir of King Suddodhana set out on a journey in around 500 BC seeking enlightenment and answers to his questions. He approached numerous religious teachers, but they were of now help. He reached the River Falgu, and sat meditating beneath a tree for a period of 3 days and nights. He attained enlightenment on finally waking up. Then he went on to Sarnath. On reaching there in seven weeks he began spreading his word.

The tree beneath which Buddha sat meditating and attained Nirvana was from then on treferred to as the tree of enlightenment. There was a temple built at the site, which houses a throne of enlightenment. The throne was decorated with Kushana and Huvishka coins. The Mahabodhi temple was built in the Kushana Temple.

As Buddhism declined, the temple fell into disrepair as well. Sir Alex Cunningham rediscovered the temple again in 1833 and began restoring it.

Festivals and Events . . .

Vaishaki Poornima or Buddha Poornima is a festival celebrated on the full moon day in the Month of Vaishakh, which comes in the months of Apr and May according to the Hindu Calendar. This day is considered to be when Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodhgaya is traditionally visited on this day.

This temple was founded in the ninth century and it was then rebuilt again in the nineteenth century.  This place is best known for its copy of the sacred Buddhist scripture, the Tripitaka Koreana.

The suneung and the Ljeong monks first settled here in Haeinsa in the year eight hundred and two. These monks came here from china.  The name, ‘reflection of a smooth sea; was taken from the Buddhist sutra that compares Buddha’s wisdom to a calm sea. Hence when the mind is free from all the wants and worries of the world then you will be able to attain incomparable calmness. This is the ideal state in which the awareness of your existence is clearly reflected.

The temple was built by the great king Aejang. He did this in gratitude o the monks for saving his wife.

According to legend, the monks tied the tumor which the kings wife had, and tied the other end of the string to a tree. After reciting the verse s, the tumor has disappeared and the tree had withered and died.

After about one hundred years, Korea was at war with the thirteenth century Mongols. At this time, the government here in Korea was in exile on the Ganghwa Island. The government commissioned a copy of the Buddhist scripture so that Buddha could intervene and help them out during the war. The scripture was created and happens to be one the best copies of the Buddhist scriptures in all of Asia.

The wood blacks, on which the scriptures were written, were woodblocks which were made of white birch. These were soaked and boiled in sea water for about three years. They were later dried for another period of three years.

Haeinsa were caught in a devastating fire in the year eighteen hundred and seventeen. This nearly destroyed the wooden temple and its buildings.  However the Tripitaka Library which was located at the read end of the complex which was built in fourteen eighty eight, was not damaged at all.  The hall was rebuilt in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen.  This happened to the late joseon dynasty.  These were built on the foundation that was built by the Haeinsa’s monks almost one thousand years ago.

The library hall has had the sacred wooden blocks designated to the Korean national treasure in the years nineteen sixty two. This is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The site was listed by UNESCO in the year nineteen ninety five.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, the monks of Haeinsa got computers and entered the contents of the Tripitaka Koreana into an electronic form. This took about two years. This text is now stored on CD ROM. The monks now have plans to make a translation of the scriptures into different languages started with Korean.

When you come here to the Haeinsa temple, check out the Tripitaka , there are about  fifty two million three hundred and eighty tow thousand and nine hundred and sixty Chinese characters which have been carved on eighty-one thousand  double sided wooden blocks  all in about six thousand eight hundred and two volumes.  This apparently is supposed to be the oldest and most complete works of the Buddhist scriptures in the entire world. Also these scriptures have been beautifully made.

The scriptures are displayed in shelves that go across the floor all the way to the ceiling. The oldest temple building here is the Janggyeong Panjeon.

This building is known for being the oldest building built here which was originally made to store exhibits and artifacts from the fifteenth century solutions and discoveries. The people here along with UNESCO worked on ways to keep the preserved woodblocks from deteriorating.

Apart from all this, there is a main worship hall called Daejeokkwangjeon which was called the hall of great silence and light. The foundation for this was rebuilt in eighteen. . This place houses a big Buddha’s statue which was carved in the year seventeen sixty nine. A vairocana Buddha statue is placed here instead of the usual seokgamani statues.  These are one of the five celestial Buddhas. Vairocana is known to be the center of the universe. Behind this statues are the wall paintings of Buddha’s entire life.

Because of these beliefs, when a new house or a building is built here; people believe that the ghosts lose their homes or resting places and get angry. When this happens; the people involved get cursed and get accident prone. And keep experiencing bad events!Hence, to calm the spirits down, the Thais build spirit house so that the wandering angered spirits can find a new home and be at rest once again.

The spirit houses look quite unique actually! Closely resembling a doll house, the spirit houses are tiny buildings with decorative and religious articles. The effect that all this has on the local people is quite extra-ordinary. Daily offerings of food, water and beautiful flowers are quite commonly made to the tiny spirit houses.

By doing this, the local people and land owners feel secure and anticipate huge success as they believe that, now; since the spirits are happy, they will reward the locals in appreciation.A lot of Business and houses have a miniature temple build at an auspicious spot in the house, where in, the temple is placed on a pillar. This way the spirits would make their homes here and bring prosperity to the owner. Now, isn’t that something !!

Also while you are here, you should definitively check out the International Buddhist Meditation Center, inside Wat Mahathat. This place offers free meditation classes thrice a day. Whats better is, if you can speak a little of the local language and maybe understand even, then you may even want to retreat to a quiet temple on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Some of the other famous temples in the region are:

• The Grand Palace.
• Wat Pho.
• Wat Arun.

Within the palace grounds lies the most sacred temple in the whole of Thailand. Wat Phra Kaew which is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.This temple unlike other temples, is not just one building and it does not have a place where monks can live. However, it is a collection of well decorated monuments and holy buildings. Truly a beautiful sight!!

So embark on a spiritually enveloping journey which is both scenic and splendid! Experience the delicious Thai cuisine and take back some unforgettable memories.

Temple:

The temple exterior is decorated with deer and wheel motifs, the early symbols of Buddhism representing Lord Buddha’s first sermon.

The interior of the temple is dark and features labyrinth of chapels dedicated to various gods and bodhisattvas. Although the temple has been rebuilt at various junction of time, its original elements remain the same. The Newari door frames, columns and finials date back to the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

History:

Jokhang Temple was built in 649 AD by King Songtsen Gampo, the first ruler of unified Tibet. The wives of the king, Bhrikuti and Wenchang, of Nepalese and Chinese origins, respectively, played significant roles in promoting Buddhism in Tibet. The temple was built to house an image of Buddha known as Jowo Rinpoche. It was brought by Queen Wengcheng from China. The statue inside the temple is revered as the holiest object by the Tibetans.

The temple structure has undergone regular expansion over time. The fifth Dalai Lama carried out extensive reconstruction works of the temple in the 17th century.

Jokhong Temple emerged as a symbol of Tibetan cultural identity and resistance during the expansion of Chinese ambition in the region.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) in China, part of the Jokhang was used as a pen for pigs while Chinese soldiers stayed in another section where they burned the temple’s ancient Tibetan scriptures. Even today, tourism activities at Jokhong Temple are closely monitored by the Chinese government. Only 100 monks are allowed to occupy the temple at a given point of time.

Attractions at the temple:

• Visit the temple at around 8 am to watch the pilgrims carrying out their worship and enter the temple around afternoon. The morning time is reserved for the pilgrims (opening time: 8:30 am to 6 pm).
• The 5 foot high statue of Buddha (Jowo Rinpoche) is the star attraction of the temple. The richly decorated image is flanked by altars of King Songtsen Gampo and his two wives.
• Image of Jowo Shakyamuni:
  The pilgrims offer their prayer before this sacred image
• Annual Great Prayer Festival (celebrated from 8th to 15th of the first month of Tibetan calendar) and also ceremonies of initiation for the Dalai Lama and Panchen Llamas.
• The third floor of the temple features an image of Palden Lhamo, the fierce protector of both Lhasa and the Dalai Lama.
• Barkhor Street:
  A sacred path lined with market stalls selling yak butter and jewelry. The pilgrims circumambulate Jokhang Temple on this path.

Other attractions:

• Potala Palace:
  The highest altitude ancient palace in the world, served as the residence of the Dalai Lama till the time when the later fleed to India.

• Ramoche Monastery:
  Constructed by the people of Tang Dynasty of China
• Klukang Monastery:
  Located in the north Lhasa city, this monastery was constructed around the middle of the 7th century.

Best time to visit:

April to October is the beast time to visit. The winter here is tormenting.

How to Reach:

• By air:
  Gonggar Airport is around 100 km from Lhasa. Airport buses operate till Potala Palace. The whole journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Taxis are also available.
• By rail:
  Lhasa has been linked by railways from Qinghai Province.
• By road:
  Lhasa is accessible by road from Qinghai Province, Chengdu and also Kathmandu.

Accommodation:

• Kyichu Hotel
• Lhasa Century Hotel
• Tibet Hongshan Hotel
• Shang Bala Hotel
• Dhood Gu Hotel
• Yak Hotel

The culture in and around the stupa  remains Himalayan with a strong presence of Tibetans and Sherpas, and this can be found from several restaurants selling Tibetan food like momos and thukpa.

History:

Some says Boudhanath was founded by the Nepalese Licchavi king Úivadeva while others opine its origin dating back to King Mânadeva (464-505 CE). Tibetan sources claim a mound on the site was excavated in the late 15th or early 16th century. The temple became an important centre of Tibetan Buddhsim after thousands of Tibetans following the Chinese aggression in 1959. Today, the temple stands an important place of pilgrimage and tourism.

The stupa:

The nine levels of Boudhanath Stupa represent the mythical Mt Meru, the gods’ abode while the 13 rings from the base to the pinnacle symbolize the path to enlightenment, or ‘Bodhi’ from which Boudhanath Stupa gets its name.

Towards the bottom, the stupa is surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. Besides five Dhyani Buddhas, Boudhanath Stupa is closely associated with Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Padmapani). ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’, the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, is carved on the prayer wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara. The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms.

The square tower is topped by a pyramid with 13 steps, which represents the ladder to enlightenment. The main entrance to the upper platform of Bodnath Stupa is at the northern side.

Other attractions:

• Shechen Monastery (a beautiful temple founded by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche)
• Khawalung Monastery (A beautiful Tibetan monastery which was inaugrated by Trulshik Rinpoche and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche in October 2005. It has monks from remote region of Nepal and Tibet)
• Losar festival (Tibetan New Year) organized in February or March. Boudhanath during this time hosts the largest celebration in Nepal.

Reaching:

By air:
Hotel Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Taxis are available from the airport (fare not more than 150 Nepalese Rupees. One can reach the Boudha Gate, the stupa entrance direct from the airport.

Getting around:

Most places of interest here around the stupa can be explored on foot.

Best time to visit:

October-November and February-April are the best time to visit Kathmandu.

Accommodation:

• Gokarna Forest Resort
• Gangchen Guest House, Bouhdanath, Tusal
• Samdrup Guest House main gate at Boudha Stupa.
• Shechen Guest House
• Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

History:

Wat Pho Bangkok was constructed as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site called Wat Phodaram. The work began in 1788 and the temple was restored and extended during the reign of King Rama III of Chakri Dynasty. During this time, plaques inscribed with medical texts were set up around the temple. In 1962 a school for traditional Thai medicine and massage was established here (such a centre was there even before the founding of the temple). Wat Pho was restored again in 1982.

Spread over an area of 20 acres, Wat Pho Bangkok of today bears little resemblance with the original temple. The gold plated statue of reclining Buddha is 46 metres long and 15 metres high, and displays passing of the Buddha into the state of enlightenment (nirvana). The feet and the eyes of the Lord feature mother-of-pearl adornment. Wat Pho is also known for being Thailand’s first university. The large grounds of the temple feature more than 1,000 Buddha images in total, most dating back to the ruins of the former capitals, namely, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

Attractions:

• The Wat Pho temple complex has two walled compounds bisected north-south by Sanamchai Road. The reclining Buddha and massage school are found in the northern walled compound.
• The southern compound, known as Tukgawee is an active Buddhist monastery.
• More than 1,000 Buddha images

Nine wonders of Wat Pho Bangkok:

• Phra Buddhasaiyas (Viharn Phranorn):
  The Vihara (pronounced Viharn) of the Reclining Buddha
• Sala Rai or Satellite Pavilions:
  North Pavilion which is a library of inscriptions on Thai traditional massage.
• Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn:
  Consists of a group of four huge pagodas surrounded by a white wall with sheltered gates.
• The Legend of Songkran:
  Portrays characters of King Kabilaprom and Prince Thammaban depicted on the inner walls.
• The World Heritage Inscriptions:
  The images are classified into three major categories.
• Wat Pho Giants:
  The outer walls of the Phra Mondob feature famous Thai proverbs.
• Sala Karn Parien:
  A pavilion built in the Ayutthaya period.
• Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn:
  The main chapel constructed during the reign of King Rama I.
• Contorted Hermit Mount:
  Was the centre of medical science and knowledge from the Ayutthaya period.

Reaching Bangkok:

Suvarnabhumi Airport serves Bangkok

Accommodation in Bangkok:

• Viengtai Hotel
• Prince Palace Hotel
• Unico Grande Silom Hotel
• Holiday Inn Silom, Bangkok
• Narai Hotel
• The Tawana Bangkok
• Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square
• Sofitel Bangkok Silom
• Grand Diamond Suites Hotel
• Silom Serene
• Siam City Hotel
• Navalai River Resort
• Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok
• Rambuttri Village Plaza
• Rikka Inn

Legend:

Swayambhunath Temple was founded about 2,000 years ago. It is held that Kathmandu Valley was filled with a lake and a single lotus grew at its centre. When boddhisatva manjusri drained the lake with a slash of sword, the lotus settled on the hill top and magically transformed itself in to a stupa (hence the name Self-Created or Swayambhu Stupa).

History:

The earliest written record of the Swayambunath Stupa’s dates back to a 5th-century stone inscription, although historians are the view that there was probably a shrine at this place as early as the 1st century.

Stupa description:

The entry to the temple is from the eastern side where 365 ancient steps lead to the steep forest covered hill. The temple base is about 20 minute walk from the centre of the capital city. Another entry to the stupa/temple is from the western side.

A bright giant gate, which I nearly 12 feet tall, containing a huge Tibetan prayer wheel is located at the bottom of the eastern stairway. There are around dozen more smaller wheels around the gate. Devotees spin the prayer wheels to chant religious prayers and mantras. The staircase has three painted Buddha statues near the base. These statues date back to the 17th century.

Numerous jewellery stones adorn the stupa staircases and these are inscribed with Tibetan mantra Om mani padme hum (‘Hail to the jewel in the lotus’). The stupa stairs are populated with several monkeys, hence giving the temple its nickname. The dome of the main stupa represents the womb of creation. The Buddha eyes gazing out from each side of the tower are those of the all-seeing Primordial Buddha. Between each of the pairs is a symbol that represents the unity of all.

Other attractions in and around the stupa:

• Harati Devi Temple: dedicated to the Hindu goddess of epidemics.
• Shantipur: a small shrine
• Pratappur and Anantapur shrines
• Shree Karma Raj Mahavihar, a Tibetan monastery with a big Buddha statue.
• Agnipur shrine
• Nagpur tank
• Bronze vajra (thunderbolt), a Tantric symbol of power, at the top of the eastern steps of the stupa. It is decorated with the signs of the Tibetan zodiac.
• Festivals and Events:
  Buddha Jayanti (in April or May) and Losar (in February or March) are the two main festivities celebrated at Swayambhunath Temple. Gunla is another celebration (August or September) observed to mark the end of the rainy season.

Best time to go:

Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit Swayambhunath Temple.Pilgrims flock the site in the morning while tourists mainly visit it later.

Reaching:

Trivubhan International Airport serves Kathmandu

Kathmandu accommodation:

• Hotel Vaishali
• Hotel Narayani
• The Blue Star
• Hotel Sherpa
• Grand Hotel

Statue:

The Great Buddha is seated in a lotus position with his hands forming Dhyani Mudra, the gesture of meditation. The statute has a tranquil gesture on its face and has wooded hills on the background. The statue is hollow, and visitors can view the interior by paying 20 Yens. The length of the face of the statue is 2.35 metres while the length of the eye is 1 metre.

Amida Buddha:

Amida Buddha is worshipped by those who preach Pure Land Buddhism. The sect originated in China and gained prominence in Japan in the 12th century.

Kamakura:

The city of Kamakura is located in Kanagawa, about 50 kilometres south-south-west of Tokyo. It was the political capital of Japan during the Kamakura Shogunnate from the 12th to 14th century AD. The city has an area of 40 square kilometres and has a population of 1,74,000.

Timing:

Kotokuin Temple: 7:00 am to 6 pm (till 17:30 from October to March); Admission: 200 yen

Statue Interior: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Reaching the site:

By air:
Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport and Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airports are located near Kamakura.

By rail:
Enoden Railway Hase Station is the nearest rail station to the Great Buddha. The fastest way is through JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo and Yokohama stations. Another option is to take the private Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Fujisawa.

Getting around:

Buses are available from the railway station to explore Kamakura.

Other acttractions at Kamakura:

• Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
• Myohonji Temple
• Hasedera (also known as ‘Hase Kannon’) it is known to be the largest wooden statue in Japan
• Zeniarai Benten Shrine
• Engakuji temple

• Kenchôji temple
• Tôkeiji nunnery
• Sugimotodera temple
• Hôkokuji known for lovely bamboo groves.
• Beaches like Shonan Coast, Yuigahama and Inamuragasaki

Accommodation:

• Kamakura-Hase Youth Hostel
• Kamakura Prince Hotel

History

Shaolin temple was founded during the reign of Northern Wei dynasty in around 497 AD and it is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China. History claims that the temple was used by an Indian monk named Batuo during the thirty years he spent in China while preaching Nikaya Buddhism. However, the name that is mostly associated with Shaolin is that of Bodhidharma or Tamo, an Indian monk who travelled to China in the 5th century to teach and peach Buddhism.

Bodhidharma had introduced a regime of gymnastics and fitness after entering Shaolin to help the monks keep in shape and coupled with meditation, the monks subsequently began to study and copy movements of animals such as snakes, tigers and mantises.

The agile exercises soon evolved into a form of self-defense, as Shaolin soon turned into a lawless territory and eventually emerged Kung Fu karate arts.

Shaolin monks underwent tremendous training from a very tender age and it is only after 20 years of practice that they earned the recognition of Kung Fu masters. They were then masters of committing of incredible acts in a whisker. Shaolin temple’s military credentials became prominent during the days of early Tang Dynasty (618-907) when Shaolin monks took to save the life of future emperor Li Shimin.

Shaolin Kung Fu had reached its peak during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when Shaolin monks even attained military status and also developed their own unique style of martial arts, known as ‘Shaolinquan’.

The original Shaolin temples survived several attacks throughout history. The Manchus had destroyed the compound in 1647 and massacred the monks. Shaolin was rebuilt around 1800. It was set on fire in 1928 by warlord Shi Yousan in 1928 while it was sacked during the days of Cultural Revolution (mid-1960s) with Kung Fu being banned. However, realizing the popularity and the tourism potential of the Shaolin temples and the Kung Fu, thanks to the movies, Shaolin was reopened in the 1980s and has been a very popular attraction even today.

Attractions:

• The Qing murals in the White Robe Hall temple depicting ‘the Rescue of Emperor Tai Zong by Thirteen Monks’
• The Thousand Buddha Hall contains a Ming mural of 500 arhats.
• In the Hall of Wen Shu, one can witness deep depressions in the floor caused by monks standing in the same place over a long period and practising their stance kicks repeatedly.
• Forest of Dagobas (or Pagoda Forest) located about 200 metres uphill from the temple. It has numerous stone pagoda memorials erected in the honour of Shaolin monks dating back between the 9th to 19th centuries.
• Cave where Bodhidarma is said to have spent nine years while in a state of Zen enlightenment. A telescope is here to view the place more closely.
• Songshan National Park

Reaching:

Shaolin temples can be visited by road from Zhengzhou.

Time of visiting:

The temple remains open from 8 am to 7 pm throughout the year.