Search places, or jump to a section
CategoriesTemple complexes
Sacred precincts, sanctuaries and the architecture of ritual.
🇮🇳 India · Ancient city
Mughal 1571–1585 CE · Mughal (Akbar)
Mughal imperial city founded 1571 by Akbar as capital to honor Sufi Salim Chishti, combining Persian, Timurid and Gujarati-Rajasthani architecture in red sandstone.
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Northern Wei to Tang (493 – 750 CE) · Buddhist imperial Luoyang under Empress Dowager Hu
Central Binyang 11 m Buddha of Northern Wei Emperor Xuanwu at Yi Gorge.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan · Temple complex
Kushan–Sasanian (100 BCE–500 CE) · Kushan Buddhist (Khalchayan–Termez)
Kara Tepe — Old Termez Stupa Terrace in Surkhandarya Province, Uzbekistan is a Kushan–Sasanian (100 BCE–500 CE) temple-complex attributed to Kushan Buddhist (Khalchayan–Termez).
🇮🇳 India · Ancient city
Gupta to Pala 427–1193 CE (peak 5th–12th c) · Bihar / Gupta-Pala Buddhist Mahayana
Iconic Buddhist residential university (5th–13th c CE) with Gupta to Pala brick viharas, stupas, chaityas and votive structures across 23 ha.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh · Temple complex
Early Medieval 7th–13th c CE · Buddhist Samatata Chandra dynasty
Mainamati-Lalmai ridge — Buddhist monastic city (7th–13th c CE) 8 km west Comilla, 18 major mounds (Shalban Vihara, Ananda Vihara, Kotila Mura) excavated 1955–73 F.A. Khan.
🇻🇳 Vietnam · Temple complex
Champa (10th–12th c. CE) · Cham art transitional My Son A1 style
My Son Sanctuary Group G — Champa in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam is a Champa (10th–12th c. CE) temple-complex attributed to Cham art transitional My Son A1 style.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Temple complex
Hellenistic to Roman (300 BCE–200 CE) · Cilician–Seleucid
Ramsgetragen? Actually Castabala — Hierapolis Castabala Temple in Osmaniye Province, Turkey is a Hellenistic to Roman (300 BCE–200 CE) temple-complex attributed to Cilician–Seleucid.
🇰🇭 Cambodia · Ancient city
Khmer Empire 1181–1243 CE (Bayon peak Jayavarman VII) · Khmer Mahayana Buddhist (with Shaiva syncretism)
Khmer capital city (late 12th century by Jayavarman VII) covering 9 km² walled square with Bayon state temple – 54 towers with 216 enigmatic smiling Avalokiteshvara faces blending Mahayana compassion…
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Chola c.1035 CE · Chola Hindu (Tamil)
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Brihadeeswarar (1035, Rajendra Chola I) – sister to Thanjavur: 55m vimana, concave curve vs Thanjavur's straight, 9m Nandi, Simhakeni tank.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Hoysala 1117–1210 CE · Hoysala Vaishnava
Chennakesava (1117) – Hoysala Vishnu soapstone flagship commissioned by Vishnuvardhana after Talakad victory.
🇻🇳 Vietnam · Temple complex
Champa (9th–10th c. CE) · Cham (Indrapura phase)
Khuong My Three Towers — Quang Nam in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam is a Champa (9th–10th c. CE) temple-complex attributed to Cham (Indrapura phase).
🇨🇳 China · Temple complex
Northern Wei 460–525 CE (Tanyao 460–465, later sinicized 471–524) · Xianbei Northern Wei Buddhist
45 major caves on 1-km sandstone cliff with 51,000 statues (460–524 CE) of Northern Wei before capital moved to Luoyang.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Chaulukya-Solanki 11th–13th c. · Jain Śvetāmbara (Solanki)
Dilwara – five Jain Śvetāmbara marble temples on Mount Abu plateau (1031–1582): Vimal Vasahi (Adinatha, 1031 Vimal Shah, Chalukya craftsmen) with lotus ceiling pendent dome carved as concentric lace;…
🇹🇷 Turkey · Temple complex
Hellenistic to Roman (300 BCE – 300 CE) · Ionian Teian with Hellenistic king patronage
Upper terrace of Technitai Dionysus sanctuary above theatre and harbour.
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Late Tang to Southern Song (892 – 1178 CE) · Chinese Buddhist with Song gentry patron
Beishan 264 caves with 10k slender Song statues 892–1178 at Dazu north hill.
🇻🇳 Vietnam · Temple complex
Champa late (13th–14th c. CE) · Cham (Panduranga rump state)
Po Klong Garai Central Temple — Panduranga in Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam is a Champa late (13th–14th c. CE) temple-complex attributed to Cham (Panduranga rump state).
🇱🇦 Laos · Temple complex
Chenla to Khmer Empire 5th–12th c CE (peak 6th–12th c) · Khmer / Chenla Hindu (Shiva Lingaparvata)
Khmer linga sanctuary (5th–12th c) at foot of Phu Pasak sacred spring mountain, aligned 1.4 km axial processional causeway from Mekong baray to cliff-top shrine.
🇵🇰 Pakistan · Temple complex
Gandhara Kushan 1st century BCE–5th century CE (peak 2nd–4th CE) · Gandhara Buddhist (Kushan patronage)
Gandhara Buddhist monastery perched 154 m above plain on rocky ridge, founded 1st c BCE and flourishing 1st–5th c CE Kushan.
🇬🇷 Greece · Temple complex
Archaeic to Hellenistic-Roman 9th c. BCE–69 BCE, sacred from Bronze Age · Greek (Ionian) to Hellenistic-Roman
Sacred island birthplace of Apollo - entire island is UNESCO open-air museum.
🇻🇳 Vietnam · Temple complex
Champa Kingdom 4th–13th c CE (peak 7th–12th c) · Cham Hindu (Shaiva, formerly Champa)
Champa Hindu temple valley (4th–13th c CE) with 70 red-brick Shaiva towers (kalan) along Thu Bon River, the longest continuous Hindu-Byzantine tradition in Vietnam.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Temple complex
Old Kingdom to Late Antique (2700 BCE–7th c. CE) · Egyptian (nome capital)
Nome capital Tjebu with Ptolemy IV temple 18-column pronaos on high tell.
🇰🇭 Cambodia · Temple complex
Angkor Wat period (12th c. CE) · Khmer (Suryavarman II)
Beng Mealea — Outer Eastern Enclosure in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia is a Angkor Wat period (12th c. CE) temple-complex attributed to Khmer (Suryavarman II).
🇬🇷 Greece · Temple complex
Mycenaean to Roman (1500 BCE–395 CE) · Eleusinian
Telesterion of Eleusis — Hall of Mysteries in Attica, Greece is a Mycenaean to Roman (1500 BCE–395 CE) temple-complex attributed to Eleusinian.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Chola 12th c. (1146–1172 CE) · Chola Hindu (Rajaraja II)
Airavatesvara (1146–1172, Rajaraja II) – Chola chariot temple (Skt ratha) where front mandapa wheels are stone chariot wheels, music steps that resonate seven tones, and yali_balustrade.
