Highlights of Malay Peninsula

Below are some of the major travel highlights for Malay Peninsula. For more in-depth attractions of each country on this route, click on the country names below or select a route to see the highlights on this section of the journey. Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features (click again to return to all).

In-depth highlights: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand


Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Religious Monuments of Bangkok - Bali

Bangkok
Bangkok is Thailand's huge and bustling capital, a chaotic and cosmopolitan city with many attractions. The most spectacular of these is the opulent and magnificent Grand Palace, reached on one of Bangkok's renowned waterways or klongs. Built in the late 18th century when Thailand was re-emerging from Burmese oppression, the complex is a vast collection of palaces, golden stupas, ornately decorative statues and wats, of which Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most impressive. Wat Po, home of the famous 46 metre long gold-plated Reclining Buddha, is another must-see. Elsewhere in the city, Jim Thompson's House is a museum containing superb examples of Thai art and furniture, collected by the former CIA officer and silk magnate. Shops and markets such as Chatuchak Market sell a huge range of Thai goods while at night Bangkok comes alive with a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Bangkok

Bangkok is Thailand's huge and bustling capital, a chaotic and cosmopolitan city with many attractions. The most spectacular of these is the opulent and magnificent Grand Palace, reached on one of Bangkok's renowned waterways or klongs. Built in the late 18th century when Thailand was re-emerging from Burmese oppression, the complex is a vast collection of palaces, golden stupas, ornately decorative statues and wats, of which Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most impressive. Wat Po, home of the famous 46 metre long gold-plated Reclining Buddha, is another must-see. Elsewhere in the city, Jim Thompson's House is a museum containing superb examples of Thai art and furniture, collected by the former CIA officer and silk magnate. Shops and markets such as Chatuchak Market sell a huge range of Thai goods while at night Bangkok comes alive with a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Borobudur
Borobudur, located in central Java 40 kilometres from Yogyakarta, is one of the most impressive Buddhist monuments in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The complex is built on several levels around a hill - a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, three concentric circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with reliefs sculpted in stone which depict the life of the Buddha and the soul's progress towards redemption. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The complex covers 200 square metres, reaching a height of 35 metres. It was built between AD 750 and 842 by the Saliendra dynasty but was neglected in the 11th century and buried in volcanic ash from Mount Merapi. Rediscovered in the 19th century, it has undergone extensive renovation, most recently by UNESCO. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Borobudur Temple Compounds

Borobudur

Borobudur, located in central Java 40 kilometres from Yogyakarta, is one of the most impressive Buddhist monuments in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The complex is built on several levels around a hill - a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, three concentric circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with reliefs sculpted in stone which depict the life of the Buddha and the soul's progress towards redemption. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The complex covers 200 square metres, reaching a height of 35 metres. It was built between AD 750 and 842 by the Saliendra dynasty but was neglected in the 11th century and buried in volcanic ash from Mount Merapi. Rediscovered in the 19th century, it has undergone extensive renovation, most recently by UNESCO.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Borobudur Temple Compounds

Prambanan
Built just half a century after the nearby Borobudur Temple in the 9th century, Prambanan Temple is a magnificent Hindu temple complex. There are 224 temple in all but the three central temples, dedicated to Shiva (at 47 metres the tallest), Brahma and Vishnu, are the most impressive. Each is decorated with reliefs depicting the Ramayana. The complex was abandoned due to volcanic activity and left to decay but renovation began in the 20th century. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Prambanan Temple Compounds

Prambanan

Built just half a century after the nearby Borobudur Temple in the 9th century, Prambanan Temple is a magnificent Hindu temple complex. There are 224 temple in all but the three central temples, dedicated to Shiva (at 47 metres the tallest), Brahma and Vishnu, are the most impressive. Each is decorated with reliefs depicting the Ramayana. The complex was abandoned due to volcanic activity and left to decay but renovation began in the 20th century.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Prambanan Temple Compounds