Royal sights in Asia
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A
Samseonghyeol Shrine
The main feature of this very unusual shrine is a hole in the ground, or rather three holes in the ground. Legends say that three brothers, Go, Bu and Yang, came out of the three holes and founded the Tamna kingdom, with help from three princesses who arrived by boat together with cattle and horses. The brothers divided the island kingdom into three sections by each shooting an arrow and taking the third where his arrow landed.
The shrine was originally built in 1526 and the spirit tablets of the island's first ancestors are honoured with food and music in a ceremony held three times a year - on 10 April, October and December. At the entrance are two of the 45 remaining…
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B
Vatsala Durga Temple & Taleju Bell
The stone Vatsala Durga Temple ( M0460), which was built by King Jagat Prakash Malla in 1672 (some sources say 1727), sits beside King Bhupatindra Malla's statue and directly in front of the Royal Palace. The shikhara-style temple has some similarities to the Krishna Mandir in Patan. In front of the temple is the large Taleju Bell, which was erected by King Jaya Ranjit Malla in 1737 to mark morning and evening prayers at the Taleju Temple.
A second, smaller bell stands on the temple's plinth and is popularly known as 'the barking bell'. It was erected by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1721, supposedly to counteract a vision he had in a dream, and to this day dogs are said to…
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Makam Sultan Hasanuddin
Remnants of the former kingdom of Gowa, 7km from town on the southeastern outskirts of Makassar, include Makam Sultan Hasanuddin, which memorialises the ruler of Gowa in the mid-17th century. Outside the tomb compound is the Pelantikan Stone, on which the kings of Gowa were crowned.
To go to Old Gowa and Sungguminasa, take a red pete-pete marked 'S Minasa' from Makassar Mall to the turn-off for the 1km walk to the tomb. A becak (bicycle-rickshaw) from there to the fort should cost around Rp8000. Another becak will take you to Mallenkeri Terminal, from where pete-pete return to central Makassar; the pete-pete should cost about Rp3000.
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Vihear Preah Ath Roes
The larger ridge, Phnom Preah Reach Throap (Hill of the Royal Fortune), is so named because a 16th-century Khmer king is said to have hidden the national treasury here during a war with the Thais. The most impressive structure on Phnom Preah Reach Throap is Vihear Preah Ath Roes. The vihara and the Buddha, dedicated in 1911 by King Sisowath, were blown up by the Khmer Rouge in 1977.
Only sections of the walls, the bases of eight enormous columns and the right arm and part of the right side of the Buddha remain. The Buddha has been reconstructed and the roof is currently being rebuilt.
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C
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall
This East-meets-West royal building was built by King Chulalongkorn, the first Thai monarch to visit Europe. Visions of his travels must still have been swimming in his head when he commissioned the throne hall, a stunning, intricate building which, despite its Western influences, has a distinctly Thai exterior.
Because this is royal property, visitors are required to cover up. Long pants or long skirts, shirts with sleeves and closed-toe footwear will be provided if you don't happen to have any in your rucksack.
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D
King Bhupatindra Malla's Column
King Bhupatindra Malla was the best known of the Malla kings of Bhaktapur and had a great influence on the art and architecture of the town. Like the similar column in Patan's Durbar Sq, this one (built in 1699) was based on the original in Kathmandu but remains the most beautiful of the three. The king sits with folded arms, studying the magnificent golden gate to his palace.
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Pura Marajan Agung
Pura Marajan Agung has one of the finest gates you’ll find and is the private temple for Ubud’s royal family.
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