The largest continent on earth beckons with ancient cultures, religious diversity, scenic landmarks, and hospitable people. The sound of prayer wheels in Tibet, the smiles of the Thai people, the ancient wisdom of China, the prayers of monks in Laos, the hospitality of Pakistanis, the silence of the mountains of Nepal, rebellious Vietnam, the power of the sunken kingdoms. and great cultures in Myanmar and Cambodia, the balancing act between modernity and tradition in Japan – Asia is a continent full of mysticism, spirituality, and exoticism.
Inglorious colors, clothed inhabitants, intense colors, extreme smells, noisy markets, diverse architecture, and deep religious faith, the most sacred river in the world, the highest mountains on earth – there is nothing that is not found in Asia.
Certainly, this list is not objective: magic cannot be measured. But all these ten magical places in Asia exude so much energy, power and eternity, that every traveler cannot help but take in and share the magnificence of it in awe.
The Top 10 Most Magical Places in Asia.
10. Kashgar in China
In the footsteps of caravans along the Silk Road.
The ancient oasis city of Kashgar was the most strategic place on the Silk Road. The Myth of the Silk Road is still alive: in the old town of Kashgar, with its winding streets, street vendors, donkey carts, and proud Uighurs that the majority of the population provides.
But above all, in the mythical Sunday market. Early in the morning, thousands of peasants gather here with their carts to the exotic market of the world. Whether it’s old saddles, silk, sword, jewelry, pans, clothing, radios, and televisions, or fresh fruits and vegetables, everything is sold here.
However, the highlight is the animal market: bulls, donkeys, sheep, goats, camels, and horses of all types and price ranges are found together in one large area for sale.
9. Siem Reap / Angkor Wat in Cambodia
The eighth wonder of the world.
Hardly a monument on earth attracts a magic spell like this, even if one of the Angkor temples now has to share with a multitude of tourists, especially the sunrise besieges the main temple of Angkor Wat.
You can still find the peace and mysticism that researchers must have experienced when they discovered the world’s largest temple complex in 1860.
And to marvel there is plenty: in addition to the main temple of Angkor Wat, the most famous temples such as Ta Prohm, which was almost found original as the French left it or the Bayon temple, which is several meters high carved out of a stone.
8. Sapa in Vietnam
The sleepy nest, which was Sapa a few years ago. The people in northern Vietnam are now in all the guides. The people of the mountain villages have become accustomed to tourism and, with an entrepreneurial mind, sell their wares in their colorful and strange alien-looking costumes.
However, Sapa remains a special place, as most Vietnamese are also the rice farmers of the mountains: on the steep slopes of the mountains, they have churned narrow terraces of rice in layers, slice by slice that stretches for miles in all directions.
7. Hunza Valley in Pakistan
The Hunza Valley is a lush green oasis in the arid high mountains of the Karakoram Mountains. Down in the valley of a wild mountain, the blue-gray Hunza River has carved deep into the sandy bottom.
At the top of Karimabad village, there are blooming apricot trees, poplar trees, and avenues of birch trees lined with terraced fields that have been reclaimed from nature.
The people of the Hunza Valley have created a little idyll, they live in small wooden houses with balconies and colorful flower beds: one almost imagines oneself in the Alps. There are snow giants more than 7,000 meters high that mock all the mountains of the Alps: Diran, Golden Peak, Muztagh Hispar, or Rakaposhi.
Hunza is also referred to as a “role model” for Pakistan in terms of its high literacy rate. The school enrollment figures are very high. Virtually all children receive an education at least up to the secondary level.
6. Varanasi in India
Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in India and is considered the holiest city in Hinduism. According to the 2011 Indian census, Varanasi has 1,201,815 inhabitants. There are approximately one hundred bathing and burning places (Ghats), Varanasi has around 200 important Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples.
- Vishwanath Temple (also: “Golden Temple”)
- Durga Temple
- Tulsi Manas Temple
- New Vishwanath Temple
- Bharat Mata Temple (“Mother India Temple”)
- Annapurna Temple
The cremation ground is located in the heart of the city. The fires burn all day long, corpses, wrapped in orange towels, awaiting the final journey.
5. Guilin-Yangshuo in China
An area from a fairy tale book.
Guilin and Yangshuo are paradises for tourists. Restaurants, hotels, bars, and souvenir shops dominate the scene. The surrounding landscape is astonishing with the limestone cone and mist-covered peaks rising abruptly from the ground, piercing rice fields, rivers, and meadows.
The river cruise on the Li River, which makes every tourist of the place falls in love. In fact, it makes it more beautiful and worth a visit, especially early in the morning when the mist hangs over the water and you feel like part of an Asian fairy tale. The area around Guilin can best be explored by bike.
4. Bagan in Myanmar
Pagodas, monks, and a journey into the past.
Here there are several thousand pagodas and temples of more than 40 square kilometers, of which around 2,000 are still preserved. Of some you can only see ruins, some have thick cracks from the last earthquake, but many pilgrims and monks still pray daily.
Be sure to visit early in the morning when all are asleep, for a magnificent view.
3. Lhasa in Tibet
Unearthly and holy.
Lhasa is still the most mystical place in Asia: the faith and piety of the people here can breathe formally; his devotion and humility are deeply moving.
Take the time to explore the hidden corners and temples of Lhasa, and especially at sunrise, along with thousands of Tibetans to the sound of prayer wheels and the murmur of pilgrims.
2. Bhaktapur in Nepal
Temple miracle and a touch of the Middle Ages.
Cars are prohibited here. The streets are paved with red bricks, a dilapidated building, rice, women in splendid saris carrying large jugs on their heads, in the houses hanging ears of corn and cloves of garlic; Clocks seem to have stopped here and have been for centuries.
The feeling of traveling back in time is made more intense by the magnificent temples, palaces, and pagodas, such as the Royal Palace with 55 windows and 99 courtyards.
1. Luang Prabang in Laos
Asia is in a deep sleep.
Luang Prabang is deposited in the heart of Indochina. Tourism is successful here. The crowds are, at best, only at sunrise; When hundreds of barefoot monks flock silently from their temples to receive food offerings in a long procession.
