Temples

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

This sprawling stronghold has been at the center of some of South India's bloodiest wars.

This shrine dedicated to a legendary swordsman has become a pilgrimage site for the ill and infirmed.

This ancient cave temple complex is the largest and best-preserved temple complex in Sri Lanka.

This Aztec structure remained hidden until the demolition of a supermarket exposed the lost temple.

This giant statue pays homage to this temple's furry residents who keep the landscape pristine.

An ornate Buddhist temple located in an Atlanta suburb, built by and for the Laotian community.

Inside the columbarium, thousands of colorful, high-tech Buddhas guard the ashes of the dead.

Every weekend, the parking lot of this Buddhist temple turns into a Thai street-food paradise.

Every dish is blessed in this basement eatery beneath a Hare Krishna temple.

The history of this futuristic crypt-turned-temple is as curious as its facade.

This dazzling Buddhist temple was constructed from over one million ceramic tiles salvaged from a British shipwreck.

A Japanese temple, old German townhouses, and public chess tables offer a peaceful escape from the bustle of the North Side.

These temples are among the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world.