Southeast Asia is not only famous for its beautiful beaches and rich cuisine , but also preserves many extremely valuable cultural and natural heritage values.
 |
| Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, a Buddhist architectural wonder. (Source: TripAdvisor) |
Wonders of the archipelago
Borobudur Temple, a symbol of Mahayana Buddhism and one of the world's greatest Buddhist architectural wonders, is located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.
Built in the 9th century, this monumental structure is not only a testament to the ingenuity of ancient architects but also reflects the complex intermingling of Indian, Chinese, and the unique indigenous cultures of the archipelago. With over 300,000 intricately stacked stones, Borobudur is a masterpiece of art, embodying profound historical and cultural values.
The temple has nine floors, stacked with six square floors, three round floors and a dome at the top. The temple has a total of 504 Buddha statues, of which the top dome alone has 72 Buddha statues surrounding it.
Borobudur is a famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists, with pilgrimages beginning around the summit, passing through three areas depicting the Buddhist concept of the Three Realms: Kāmadhātu (Realm of Desire), Rupadhatu (Realm of Form), and Arupadhatu (Realm of Formlessness). Along the way to the summit, visitors traverse vast staircases and corridors, past thousands of reliefs carved into the walls and railings. The temple is renowned for having the most relief carvings in the world.
After the fall of the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty, the temple was abandoned for 10 centuries. In 1814, the Dutch colonial government in Indonesia sent a group of European scientists to study it when it was too dilapidated and damaged.
In 1970, the Indonesian government appealed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for assistance. UNESCO's Borobudur restoration program brought together nearly 600 renowned restoration experts from around the world to carry out large-scale restoration work on the temple, rearranging the stones back into their proper positions. This was done over 12 years at a total cost of approximately $50 million.
After restoration, the temple once again radiates the brilliant light of Eastern Buddhist architectural art, revealing its ancient grandeur, worthy of being one of the famous wonders of Asia.
Kinabalu Biological Treasure
Kinabalu National Park, located on the island of Borneo, Malaysia, is not only a famous tourist destination but also one of the world's most precious biodiversity treasures.
Recognized as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO since 2000, Kinabalu is home to more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 species of birds, 100 species of mammals and more than 110 species of land snails.
The park covers an area of 754 square kilometers and encompasses Mount Kinabalu, the majestic mountain with the highest peak in Southeast Asia, which was formed between 10 and 35 million years ago. At 4,095 meters high, Kinabalu is one of the youngest mountains in the world, still growing at a rate of 5 mm per year.
As one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, Kinabalu National Park boasts diverse landscapes ranging from lowland tropical rainforests to frigid high mountain regions, creating an ideal habitat for thousands of species, many of which are endemic, including the Kinabalu giant earthworm (Pheretima darnleiensis) and the Kinabalu giant red leech (Mimobdella buettikoferi).
Naturalists will be particularly interested in the opportunity to explore Kinabalu's unique ecosystem, as it is a suitable environment for many orchids, and especially for many carnivorous plants, most notably the rare Nepenthes rajah, found only in this area. In addition, there are many species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects...
Ancient Ayutthaya City
Located about 80km north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya was once the political, economic and cultural center of the Thai kingdom.
The ancient city of Ayutthaya in Thailand was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1991.
Ayutthaya ancient city is a living testament to the exchange and development of Southeast Asian architecture. The architecture of Ayutthaya city is a harmonious combination of Sukhothai, Angkor and Indian architectural styles, creating a unique feature.
Temples, palaces and other structures were built according to strict plans, with surrounding roads, canals and moats.
Stepping onto the main road leading into the city center, visitors will see well-preserved, towering stupas, a stark contrast to the temples in Bangkok. Ayutthaya boasts many ancient temples such as Wat Phutthaisawan, Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Pra Sri Sanphet, Wat Worachettharam, etc., which are valuable cultural and spiritual tourist destinations. Visitors can feel the sacredness and solemnity when they set foot in these temples.
Ayutthaya is quite large so visitors can take a tuk tuk, rent a bicycle or explore on foot. Cycling is an interesting experience when weaving through and admiring the temples and towers that have the color of time. The paved roads are smooth and the distance between the temples is not too far so it is easy to travel.
***
Cultural and natural heritage, with their unique appeal, have played and continue to play a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism development. Effectively utilizing the cultural and historical values of heritage sites not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to raising community awareness of heritage values, thereby creating a solid foundation for long-term development.
Not only in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, preserving and promoting heritage values in the future continues to be one of the top priorities of many countries, including Vietnam.
The success of these destinations has proven that heritage is not only a national asset but also a valuable resource for sustainable tourism development. Therefore, how to replicate these successful models and protect these precious heritage sites is the question we need to answer together.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/suc-hut-di-san-dong-nam-a-289680.html
Comment (0)