#867 Taxila, Pakistan

Just out of the capital, Islamabad, past its twin city of Rawalpindi, lies one of Pakistan's ancient treasures: Taxila or Takshasila, built by the Achaemenians in 6th century BC. It is one of the regions most rich archaeological sites, though sadly much was destroyed by religious fanatics. Taxila was one of Gandhara's most important cities (Gandhara is the old name for the Peshawar Plain), visited by Alexander the Great, where Mauryan emperor Ashoka built a university. Bactruan Greeks and Kushans both extended this city where it was a centre of culture in a large Central Asian empire until the White Huns destroyed it in the 5th century.

Bhir Mound is often the first place visited, near the museum, which was the Gandharan center, and bears a resemblance to similar Buddhist mounds on the other side of the Indian subcontinent. Streets, shops and steps have been neatly excavated. At the other end of the complex is Jandial, which is of Greek style, including ionic columns. 

Jaulian and Mohra Moradu are complexes further away from the main center, but house the fascinating monk cells of a monastery and the amazing collection of bas relief Buddhas, elephants, and other creatures.

Source: Lonely Planet Pakistan & The Karakoram Highway, 7th Edition
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139

#931 Kyaiktyo (Golden Rock), Myanmar (Burma)

One of the most sacred pilgrimmage places in Burma is a place called Kyaiktyo, where a precariously perched rock which has been painted with gold-leaf and people travel across the country to spend time meditating there. An amazing journey in itself, the collective travel and sense of purpose that accompany it make it collegial and full of community. Likewise, while the majestic vision itself perched high above a valley is a sight to behold, the people you watch and the spectacle are equally unique.

The area is a marvel of magic and devotion, religious iconography, excessive commercial development, rosaries sold aside toy rifles, people meditating, sleeping, and touching the rock (affixing more gold-leaf). The walk up is several hours long, and in a wonder of contrasts, passes through villages, past stupas, statues, shops and souvenirs.

The gravity-defying rock iteslf, with a 7.3m high stupa on top, is one of Myanmar's most sacred sites, perched on the edge of Mt. Kyaiktiyo (pronounced chay ti tyo). Legend has it that the rock can sit thus because of Buddha's specially placed hair inside the stupa. King Tissa (11th century) was given the hair by a hermit who had secreted it in his own topknot. The king was instructed to find a boulder that resembled the hermit's head, which was found at the bottom of the ocean, and upon reaching the mountain top, the boat turned to stone (which can be seen nearby).

Source: Lonely Planet Myanmar (9th Edition)

#945 Nga Hpe Chaung (Jumping Cat Monastery), Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)

If I ever became a Buddhist monk, I think that I would choose to live at this monastery in the middle of Inle Lake -- where else in the world could I possibly meditate and pray, AND be with cats all the time? Teaching an animal like the cat is difficult, as those who have tried must already be aware, so when you visit this monastery and see the astonishing visions of cats jumping through hoops on demand, it is impressive. And because they are lazing around all over the place in the rest of the time, it is cat-lover heaven. Yes, a tourist trap, perhaps, but a unique one!

#950 Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

One of the most mystical and impressive sites that I have ever seen in the world are the temples in Bagan in Myanmar. That there are so many temples, each so different and so elaborate, yet all were created purely for spiritual purposes and are still used till this day, this is unmatched anywhere else.

The magic of Bagan also lies in how you visit it. A horse cart or a bicycle, all modern conveniences are left behind, so the place truly feels timeless, as a new temple rises up from the brown earth just as each other one has for centuries and millenia before it

Amazing Facts:

42 square kilometres

On the banks of a curve in the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River

Sunset chasing is a rite of passage

Nyaung U is the modern town

Nearby Mt. Popa is famous for its 'Nat' spirits (the most important Nat worship site in the country)

Bagan was the first empire to unify the states that make up the area of Myanmar

It was at its height between the 11th and 13th Centuries

It consists of over 10,000 temples, monasteries, pagodas, etc of which 2200 remain today

The British colonials called it Pagan

There are different kinds of buildings including stupas (massive solid structures with a relic chamber) and hollow temples, intended as meditation spaces

One temple has a style that looks like a Hindu temple

As a celebration of 50 amazing places, I have to put one of my favorite places!

Source: Lonely Planet Myanmar 9th Edition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagan

#975 Angkor, Cambodia

If I had to pick the historical site with the most ambiance, the most picturesque vistas, the most fascinating historical stories, the most amazingly unique architecture, Angkor in Cambodia would be it. I lost count of how many amazing individual sites that I visited there that would each have been worthy of World Heritage status in their own right, Angkor Wat itself actually only being one of a complex of many. At times Hindu and Buddhist, it is the most famous of all Khymer architecture, and was built between the 9th and 15th centuries. Other important and memorable structures include the Angkor Thom (the capital area itself), the Terrace of the Elephants, the Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and the similar Prasat Banteay Kdei, and many smaller temples interspersed with Baray (large water pools) including the massive Srah Srang as big as a small lake, Phnom (hills), and naga-bridges with stone guards lining either side. Kbal Spean had amazing carved rocks on the creek bed, and there were even pyramids like Phimeanakas.

The Angkor Wat temple itself is the one most often seen in the sunset pictures (see above) -- those reflections always interest me now because when I was there, there really wasn't that much water! A massive palace structure, with walls after walls of spectacular bas-reliefs of stories, kings, religious figures and other images. The decoration is incredible, but the views from the second floor structures show a landscape of other beautiful vistas.

Another famously photographed feature are the trees that grow out of Ta Prohm, made famous by the Lara Kroft/Tomb Raider film where Angelina Jolie runs through the ruins which are engulfed and overgrown by large trees. Interestingly, there are many different types of trees that have overrun the various Angkor ruins, including the silk cotton tree, the thitpok, the gold apple, and the strangler fig.

I think my favorite complex was the Prasat Bayon, which has 216 stone heads around 2 meters high each, peering eerily down at you, seeming to follow your movement from all angles. Sometimes mistaken as pure representations of Buddha, they were actually modeled on one conceited king (Jayavarman VII) as the Buddha Bodhisattva Lokesvara. 

A great map of the whole complex can be found here.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor
"The area of Angkor has many significant archaeological sites, including the following: Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Baksei Chamkrong, Banteay Kdei, Banteay Samré, Banteay Srei, Baphuon, the Bayon, Chau Say Tevoda, East Baray, East Mebon, Kbal Spean, the Khleangs, Krol Ko, Lolei, Neak Pean,Phimeanakas, Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Krom, Prasat Ak Yum, Prasat Kravan, Preah Khan, Preah Ko, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu, Pre Rup, Spean Thma,Srah Srang, Ta Nei, Ta Prohm, Ta Som, Ta Keo, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Thommanon, West Baray, West Mebon."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon