Unsung Heroes

Asia’s tourist trail tends to herd travelers to the same spots. As holidaymakers inundate Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, they overlook many fascinating, nearby urban areas. From Nara, Japan’s sublime first capital city, to South Korea’s beach metropolis Busan, and monument-laden Hyderabad in India here are a selection of destinations that deserve more love.

Nara was once the most important place in Japan. It became this nation’s first permanent capital some 1300 years ago and remains a stately city of remarkable architecture. Now, Nara’s location ensures that it exists in the shadow of more modern urban centres.

Futuristic megalopolis Osaka, historic Kyoto, and port city Kobe all are within 60km of Nara, which is comparatively tiny and sleepy. Those tourists who do venture here will be thankful. Nara’s enchanting blend of natural beauty and ancient structures is matched by just a few destinations worldwide.

The magnificent remains of former glories are more striking due to being scattered through Nara Park, a tranquil forest filled with frolicking deer. Twice a year, Nara’s photogenic properties are supercharged. From late March to early April, more than 1000 cherry blossom trees bloom brilliantly across Nara Park.

Nara’s autumnal bloom, from mid-November to mid-December, when vivid foliage paints its trees gold, pink, orange, red and purple, is a major draw. During any season, though, tourists will appreciate this UNESCO-recognized site. Especially notable are its five glorious Buddhist temples—Todaiji, Kofukuji, Gangoji, Yakushiji and Toshodaiji—and classical Japanese gardens, Isuien and Yoshikien.

Hyderabad has two of the most underrated historic sites in all of India. From a tourism perspective, the capital of India’s southern Telangana State has a very low profile compared to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Varanasi, Agra and Goa.

This relative obscurity benefits travellers who find space and peace at its pair of brilliant heritage attractions. Qutb Shahi Tombs is arguably Asia’s finest necropolis. Embellishing this 106-acre site are about 100 commanding monuments, including 40 mausoleums, 23 funerary mosques, and a neat arrangement of step-wells, pavilions, hammam baths and fortifications.

All of which now looks fresh thanks to an almost completed, 10-year restoration project. This giant necropolis is the resting place of elite members of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which established Hyderabad and controlled a chunk of southern India across the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

For a time, the Qutb Shabis presided over their Golconda Kingdom from behind the walls of the nearby Golconda Fort. This citadel is still largely intact. Visitors can wander through its decaying yet attractive halls, mosques, palace, and armoury. So impressive is this fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs that they, collectively, are on the tentative list to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

South Korea‘s second-biggest metropolis is unique among Asian cities in being built along a series of attractive beaches. Busan is like this nation’s version of Barcelona, Sydney or Los Angeles.

Between May and October, Busan’s weather is typically warm enough for swimming at its collection of clean, sandy beaches. Haeundae, Songdo and Gwangalli are its three most popular strips of sand. Beyond this, tourists to Busan will also find a trove of sublime temples, busy street markets, modern museums, meticulous parks, and high-quality restaurants.

Seafood defines Busan’s dining scene. Which makes sense given it hosts one of Asia’s largest fish markets, Jagalchi. Tourists can pick live specimens of lobster or crab to be cleaned and cooked fresh for them. Meanwhile, Busan’s hillside Beomeosa is a pretty temple with phenomenal views across the city. And Haedong Yonggungsa temple is similarly memorable, built on the ocean’s edge.

Malacca appeals strongly to young and old visitors for contrasting reasons. The former capital of Malaysia sits by the sea about 120km south of the current capital, Kuala Lumpur.  Malacca has such a unique appearance, due to being pierced by a canal, decorated by diverse architecture and service by neon-lit rickshaws, that it’s a prime backdrop for social media imagery.

While teens and 20-somethings savor such photographic fodder, their parents will likely be engrossed by this city’s dense and rollicking history. Islamic, Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese and English buildings line Malacca’s streets.

Collectively, these mosques, churches, temples, shrines and shophouses are doused in a wide palette of colours. They also hint at a deep array of stories. Some 600 years ago, Malacca bloomed into the headquarters of an Islamic Sultanate. One which did extensive trade with, and was greatly influenced by China.

Malacca became such a prosperous maritime port that it was fought over from the early 1500s to the mid-1900s. During that period it was seized by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British. History is explained by Malacca’s fine museums and exemplified by its wonderfully varied cityscape.

Scattered across Thailand are an array of Royal hubs which are little known.

These include Lamphun, a petite city about 20km southeast of touristy Chiang Mai. Visitors passing through Lamphun would see, on the surface, a tranquil, riverside city similar to countless more across Thailand. Those who pause to inspect its historic sites, and peruse Haripunchai National Museum, will learn it was once a grand Imperial citadel.

Maps, text and videos at that museum explain that, more than 1000 years ago, Lamphun became the hub of the Haripunchai Kingdom, which controlled a swathe of Northern Thailand. Protecting this wealthy settlement were high perimeter walls surrounded by a moat. Tourists can see a few intact parts of that fort. Before stepping into the former Royal Palace, now home to beautiful temple Wat Phra That Haripunchai Woramahawihan