Top 10 Mysterious Temples in the World I Most Ancient Temples Around World

There are many mysterious temples in the world that have some unsolved mysteries about them because the temple is a place where people worship and perform spiritual activities. The purpose of temples for worship can be read from the pages of history. Mostly, some religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc. the temples are pious places for the worship of their respective gods. These mysterious temples were constructed over many centuries back or thousands of years. The mysteries about these temples are how they are constructed. When our ancestors do not have so much of means and also no machinery and technology. Let’s take a look at the top list of mysterious temples in the world:

List of Mysterious Temples in the World

1. Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan

Mysterious Temples in the world, fAMOUS Temples in the world

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan

Taktsang Lhakhang is the world’s most mysterious temple and ancient landmark. The meaning of the name Taktsang is the “The Tiger’s Nest”. This temple clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley and is one of the holiest sites in the kingdom. At a cave where Guru Rimpoche used to meditate in the 7th century A.D. was first built in 1692. It is believed that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. Ever since many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it and the cave has been considered a sacred site. At an altitude of 3.120 m, Taktsang Lhakhang is located approximately 10 km north of Paro town. Visitors must trek for around 2-3 hours through beautiful, shady pine forests in order to arrive at the temple. A visit to this remarkable heritage site no trip to Bhutan would be complete without it.

Address: Taktsang trail BT, Taktsang trail, Bhutan

2. Jetavanaramaya, Sri Lanka

Jetavanaramaya, Sri Lanka

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maha Bodhi Temple and 2 km from Anuradhapura Railway Station, Jetavanaramaya is an ancient Buddhist stupa situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest stupas in Anuradhapura located in the Mahamewna Parkand among the sacred places to visit in Anuradhapura while holidaying in Sri Lanka. At 400 feet, Jetavanaramaya is the third tallest ancient structure in the world and was the tallest stupa in Sri Lanka built by King Mahasena of Anuradhapura (273-301). He initiated the construction of the stupa following the destruction of the Mahavihara and was completed by his son Maghavanna I. It is believed that a part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha is preserved here. Today, this famous mysterious temple around the world is no longer the tallest, but is one of the largest in the world, with an area of over 5 hectares and housing over 10,000 monks. Within the complex, there is a museum known as the Jetavana Museum which houses various artifacts from the 2nd century BC to the last quarter of the 3rd century. Most of these objects were recovered during the excavation such as carvings, of Buddha statues, guard stones, jewellery, ear ornaments, ivory carvings, bangles, pottery, three-tiered urinal pot, precious stones, over 300,000 beads of various materials, Hindu and Buddhist ritual objects, Roman and Indian coins, a painted slab of stones and imported and local ceramics. Behind the museum is the beautiful Buddhist railing, which is a rectangular structure with four entrances in four cardinal directions. Entry fee is 25 USD for Foreigners & 12 USD for SAARC Nationals (Including entry to all the historical sites except Maha Bodhi & Isurumuniya).Address: Jetavanaramaya, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

3. Kailash Temple, India

Kailash Temple, India

Located in cave 16 of Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, the Kailasa or Kailasanatha temple is the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world. Carved out of single basalt rock from Charanandri Hills, it is one of the exceptional and mysterious temples of India owing to its mind-boggling carvings, massive size, and amazing architecture. With its intricate designs on panels, monolithic pillars and statues of animals and deities, Kailasa Temple is an engineering marvel perfect for history and architecture lovers. Constructed in the 8th century under the direction of Krishna I, the temple is dedicated to Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. The temple stuns every visitor as only one rock has been carved immaculately using only traditional methods associated with many legends. It was built in 18 years using 2,00,000 tonnes of rock and is considered similar to the Virupaksha temple of northern Karnataka.

Address: Ellora, Maharashtra, India.

4. Prambanan, Indonesia

Prambanan, Indonesia

Located near Bokoharjo, on the island of Java in Indonesia, Prambanan is a Hindu temple complex dating from the 9th century CE. Prambanan is one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia and the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. This popular mysterious temple in the world is dedicated to the Trimurti of Hinduism; Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Based on the Vastu Shastra, Prambanan’s architecture conforms to Hindu architectural traditions, and the temple thus reflects the Hindu conceptions of the cosmos in its design and layout. Despite its grandeur and rich exterior ornamentation, the Javanese abandoned Prambanan within 100 years of its completion around c. 950 CE. Although the ravages of time and natural disasters took their toll on Prambanan, the Javanese never forgot the ruins, and Prambanan continued to play a part in Javanese folklore. Restoration and research of Prambanan began in earnest in the early 20th century, and in 1991 the temple complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is today one of the most visited mysterious temples in the world. Prambanan is located some 17 km (11 miles) northeast of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, near the border between the two provinces of Yogyakarta and Central Java, on the island of Java. The ruins themselves lie 0.5 km south of the village of Prambanan.

Address: Jl. Raya Solo – Yogyakarta No.16, Kranggan, Bokoharjo, Kec. Prambanan, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55571, Indonesia

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5. Temple of Heaven, China

Temple of Heaven, China

The Temple of Heaven is a collection of religious buildings, which was visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and today by thousands of visitors daily. The temple was open to the public in 1988., and the temple complex is enormous, even bigger than the Forbidden City. The Chinese emperors were regarded as sons of heaven and thus, performed duties on behalf of the gods. It is also the reason their own house couldn’t be bigger than that of god’s. The features of this top most mysterious temple in the world are quite stunning, especially inside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, where the emperors prayed twice every year. The Circular Mound Altar is where sacrifices were performed, and is regarded as the temple’s most important part. Such as the Heaven Worship Culture, Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Palace of Abstinence, Divine Music Administration, there are other buildings of importance in the complex. The extensive parklands around the temple serve many purposes.

Address: 1 Tiantan E Rd, Dongcheng, China, 1000611

6. The Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

The Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, and encompassing an area of about 500 acres, Angkor Wat is one of the most significant religious monuments ever constructed. The temple was initially designed and built during the first half of the 12th century on the orders of the then emperor Suryavarman II. Originally a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Angkor Wat gradually shifted from a Hindu center of worship to a Buddhist one in the 14th century. The original name is still unknown since no inscription or foundation stela was found from that time. In Northern, Cambodia lies one of the largest monuments in the world. Angkor Wat is a treasured Buddhist temple and the allure of the Angkor Archaeological Park. Located 6 kilometres north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is considered as the gateway to the ruins of Angkor. This temple is a source of pride and national icon for Cambodia and is also proudly displayed on the national flag. The city of Angkor in which lies the Angkor Wat temple was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire. The park is making it the largest pre-industrial city in the world and spread across an area of roughly 400 square kilometres. Angkor was a well-established city, and the temples were a part of that flourishing city. This popular mysterious temple in the world among them all was Angkor Wat, which has been rebuilt many times by different kings of the Khmer empire and later the kings of other dynasties according to their preferences. The ruins of Angkor feels like you’ve entered a completely different world where the lines of reality and fantasy have become blurred.

Address: Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia.

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7. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, India

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, India

A beautifully carved temple complex Ranganathaswamy Temple is located in Srirangapatna in the south-western state of Karnataka, India. It is said that Lord Ranganatha is an avatar of Lord Vishnu in Hindu religion and this temple is dedicated to him. Do take a minute to notice the beautiful carvings at the entrance of Gopuram of the temple. The complex is surrounded by the River Kaveri which adds to the beauty of the temple. Before entering the holy temple complex, the ghats of the river are frequented for taking a dip. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna is considered as one of the five most sacred and important shrines devoted to Lord Vishnu in Hinduism and these sites are called Pancharanga Kshetram. Adi Ranga or the ‘first Ranga’ is the presiding deity of this temple. The temple is visited by devotees from all over the world and has a rich history associated with it. This famous mysterious Hindu temple in the world comes under the Archaeological Survey of India.

Address: Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620006

8. Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

Towering over the Burmese city of Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda is rumoured to be the oldest Buddhist pagoda in the world. According to the real incident of that time, it is said two brothers were traveling when they encountered the Buddha beneath a tree. Buddha offered them a gift and gave them exactly eight hairs from his head after feeding him. The brothers then carried the sacred hairs in a ruby casket back to their country where, with the help of the king, they began building what would become the Shwedagon Pagoda complex. When the casket containing the holy hair was opened, the relic unleashed a flood of miracles including causing the seeing a rain of gemstones issue from the sky, blind to see, and the lame to walk. Many archeologists have placed its construction closer to 1,000 to 1,400 years old but legend believes the pagoda is around 2,600 years old Either way, the opulent site has survived through war and political turmoil in the area and still looms over Yangon in glittering glory. The large central stupa is covered in real gold plates that are constantly donated from countries around the world as needed, and its tip is encrusted with rubies and diamonds. Head towards the golden stupa that towers over Yangon. Shwedagon Pagoda is open daily, from 4-22. Last admission is at 21:45. You can visit the pagoda during the day and also at night because the ticket is valid for the whole day. Shwedagon Pagoda on weekends and middle of the day can get really crowded, so avoid this time. I recommend you to hire a guide while exploring this ancient mysterious monument in the world who will explain everything about the pagoda and the rituals, enhancing your experience hugely. You won’t be allowed to enter the temple grounds if you’re dressed in shorts. You can rent or buy a sarong outside the entry gate.

Address: Shwedagon Pagoda, Dagon, Yangon, Myanmar.

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9. Wat Rong Khun, Thailand

Wat Rong Khun, Thailand

Constructed in the style of a Buddhist Temple, the Wat Rong Khun White temple is a privately owned art-exhibit. Popularly known to foreigners as the White Temple of Thailand, Wat Rong Khun is situated in the Chiang Rai province of Thailand. The exhibit opened its doors to the visitors in 1997 owned by Chalemchai Kosipipat. The temple was almost completely destroyed during the earthquakes of 2014, but now it has opened for tourists again. You’ll find a much deeper meaning behind this creation by Chalemchai Kosipipat if you look beyond the architecture and beauty of this masterpiece. To reach heaven and nirvana, his masterpiece conveys and one must overcome the cycle of life and death. The main hall of this most ancient mysterious temple in the world is white in color because it’s a symbol of representation for the purity that is represented by Buddha. Besides being painted white, the outside of the hall is decorated with mirrors, to give a message of reflecting on one’s wisdom.

Address: Lahaul-Spiti Pa O Don Chai Subdistrict, Chiang Rai, Thailand.

10. Borobudur, Indonesia

Borobudur, Indonesia