Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 161 i ASIAN Geographic

Ask the uninitiated about Sri Lanka, and they’ll likely come up with “tea” and “cricket”. After all, it’s almost impossible to have enjoyed a nice cuppa without noticing where those cherished leaves originated from, or to have even a passing interest in the “gentleman’s game” without knowing that the onetime British colony got rid of the colonisers but clung feverishly to their national sport. And yet, while visitors to Sri Lanka can certainly enjoy an authentic cup of Ceylon tea or catch some quality cricket played in a stadium or on the street, this “jewel of the Indian Ocean” has so much more to offer the more adventurous traveller. With hundreds of miles of often-scenic railways – another legacy of colonial rule – and a well-developed, if at times impressively…

Koyasan attracts pilgrims and Nature lovers seeking spirituality and enlightenment. Japanese belief is that one can feel the presence of God in these woodlands. It is the perfect place not only to enjoy the pristine countryside and cultural landscape but also to experience peace and tranquillity, much needed in our fast-paced, modern lives. While at Koyasan, visit the Kongobu-ji, the head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect, which was first constructed as Seigan-ji Temple in 1593 by feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The interiors are stunning, with each of the halls being thematically decorated. The Betsuden, a temple annex added in 1934, showcases the four seasons. Don’t miss the Banryueti Rock Garden and its beautifully sculpted rocks, before enjoying a cuppa at the Tea Garden. Koyasan is also home to the…

With its imposing mountains, rugged coastline, picturesque waterfalls, scenic rivers, and huge old-growth trees, the Kii Peninsula has been considered a mystical abode of the gods since ancient times. It is here that Shinto, Japan’s age-old tradition of Nature worship, would flourish, eventually fusing with the Buddhist beliefs introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula. The Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples that emerged in the dense forests of the Kii Mountains have attracted pilgrims from all levels of society for more than a millennium. The network of pilgrimage routes, the Kumano Kodo, or “old ways”, are the key part of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage designation, along with three revered sites: Koyasan (the centre of Shingon Buddhism), Yoshino and Omine (centres of mountain worship), and Kumano Sanzan (the three grand…

First timers to Kyoto will want to get a good dose of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and Zen gardens, leaving time to enjoy the markets, restaurants, and a night or two in a ryokan, Japan’s charming traditional accommodation. If you can catch a glimpse of a geisha or a traditional festival, that’s an added bonus. This is a city you can easily lose yourself in for three or four days, so above all, make sure you don’t try and achieve too much, but take the time to savour every exquisite morsel. Buddhist Temples There are a lot of Buddhist temples in Kyoto. In fact, if you could visit a new one every day, it would take you well over four years to see them all! Many visitors start with the…

ASIAN Geographic’s expeditions are back, and with it the trip that tops so many people’s travel bucket lists: the Silk Road through Uzbekistan. This is the country where caravans of camels once journeyed through the desert, travelling from oasis to oasis, and where the descendants of those camels still roam. The caravanserais where they would spend the night are still standing, too, as are the grand bazaars and the glittering monuments of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. It might feel as if you are stepping into a fairy tale, but Uzbekistan is very much real. The first thing you need to know about Uzbekistan is that the past and the present stand inseparably side by side. Flying into the capital, Tashkent, everything looks glitzy and new, but this is a city…

Kumano Hongu Taisha First documented in the 9th century, Hongu Taisha was described as five main pavilions enshrining 12 deities, as well as a stage for music, dance and Noh dramas as religious offerings. Over the centuries, the pavilions were periodically damaged or destroyed by fires and flooding, but always carefully rebuilt. After floods in 1889, the shrine was moved from its original location at Oyunohara to its present site a kilometre away. The entrance to Oyunohara is marked by a huge torii gate, which signifies the division of the secular and spiritual worlds. An exceptional example of Japanese shrine architecture, Hongu Taisha is made with natural unfinished materials, allowing it to blend beautifully into the surrounding environment, and employs few nails in its construction, instead making use of intricate…

Whether you call it Everest, Chomolongma (Tibetan) or Sagarmatha (Nepali), the world’s highest peak will always have a strong association with Nepal for foreign visitors, even if the border with China runs across its summit point. Indeed, while there may be base camps on opposite sides of the mountain, it’s the South Base Camp on the Nepali side that attracts trekkers from around the world. China closed the North Base Camp to visitors without climbing permits in 2019 in an effort to deal with the mounting rubbish problems at the site. But if we’re being honest, who of us really wants to undertake the gruelling two-week hike to more than 5,000 metres above sea level? Luckily, there are a myriad of other amazing things to do in this culturally rich…