Asia is the largest continent in the world with regards to size and population. It is also a melting pot of diverse cultures, traditions, and home to some of the oldest civilizations on the planet. These are some of the reasons why you’ll have much to see and do while exploring Asia. You might take more than a month to explore just one country.
If you’re on a tight schedule and budget, it is recommended that you visit some unusual destinations. They’re the ones that are explored by fewer tourists. However, they’re still some of the best destinations worth exploring in the Asian continent. Here, we’ve listed four of such unusual destinations you must visit while touring Asia:
1. Beijing, China
Beijing is one of the world’s most populous cities. It is also among the oldest. This means you’ll have some intriguing historic structures to explore during your visit to China’s capital city. One of these historic places is the narrow alleyways or ‘hutongs’. They’re lined up with fascinating traditional homes and courtyards.
Beijing is also home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They include the Imperial Summer Palace and its gardens. You’ll be amazed during your visit to the Forbidden City. It is a palace complex made up of nearly 1,000 different buildings.
This palace complex has been the home of China’s emperors for 500 years. China’s capital also gives its visitors the chance to see many temples and pagodas. Among them are the Tianning Temple, which was built in the 12th century.
2. Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap is a Cambodian resort town, considered as the gateway to the Angkor region. Upon entering this region, you can get to the magnificent temples that were built by the Khmer kings. Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the must-visit attraction of the Angkor region.
This is the largest religious monument in the world. It was constructed in the early 12th century and covers a vast area of 160 hectares. Besides the ancient marvels, the city also has several French and Chinese buildings from the colonial era.
3. Jaipur, India
Jaipur is considered one of the most beautiful cities in India. It is also known as the ‘pink city’. This is because of the distinct colour of stones that were used to build many of the city’s structures. Jaipur is also home to a vibrant community of artisans.
Many of the monuments and pink structures are located within 10 kilometres of this city. They include the ancient temple complex of Galtaji. It has been built into the narrow hills and is surrounded by sacred water pools. Other attractions include the world’s largest stone sundial at Jantar Mantar and Amer Fort.
4. Bagan, Myanmar
One of the world’s top heritage sites, Bagan was the capital of a powerful kingdom. The Bagan Archaeological Zone covers an area of 41 square kilometres. It is home to over 3,000 stupas, pagodas, and other structures of religious importance. All of them are tucked away in the midst of dense forests.
Outside the archaeological zone, this ancient city is popular for its lacquer and sand paintings. They are available at the local markets in most of the villages. You can also buy beautiful gifts and mementoes from Bagan’s night market and the traditional Burmese market.