8 Asian destinations added to the Unesco World Heritage List
A mixed cultural‑natural entry, Mount Kumgang combines soaring granite peaks with historic Buddhist hermitages and living traditions dating to the fifth century. Its designation emphasises intangible spiritual value within a dramatic landscape. 4. Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, South Korea
Rock engravings from circa 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE by Ulsan's prehistoric communities were inscribed under the Unesco criteria for pre‑history. The pictorial whales, human shapes and abstract symbols reveal a multi‑millennial visual tradition. 5. Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal, Tajikistan
The Ancient Khuttal sites span 11 locations across Tajikistan's Khatlon region. These include the palace of Qalai Hulbuk, the Buddhist site of Ajina‑Teppa with its reclining Buddha, caravanserais, mausolea and fortified towns like Kafyr‑Kala. Once a key hub on the Silk Road from the 7th to 16th century, Khuttal reflects centuries of cultural exchange through its architecture, planning and religious diversity. 6. Xixia Imperial Tombs, China
Above China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the Unesco World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. (Photo: Yuan Hongyan / VCG / Getty Images)
Nestled in the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwestern China, these necropolises were built by the Tangut rulers of the Xixia Dynasty (1038—1227 CE). The site includes nine imperial mausolea, 271 attendant tombs and flood‑control works, illustrating buried dynastic ritual and Silk Road cultural fusion. 7. Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, Vietnam
Encompassing 20 sites across forests and rivers, this complex is the birthplace of Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhism, rooted in 13th‑century Tran Dynasty devotion. Temples, shrines and hilltop pagodas remain active pilgrimage destinations, merging spiritual and historical significance recognised by Unesco. 8. Maratha Military Landscapes, India
Twelve forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, including Raigad, Vijayadurg and Gingee, have been inscribed as Unesco cultural heritage. Dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they reflect Maratha military planning and architectural innovation, now India's 44th Unesco listing.
Each addition reflects Unesco's evolving definition of heritage. The Cambodian memorials confront recent atrocities head-on within Unesco's frameworks, usually reserved for ancient sites. The Indian forts reframe military infrastructure as cultural storytelling. Meanwhile, Korea's petroglyphs, China's mausolea and Vietnam's Zen landscape underscore intangible cultural continuity tied to place. Unesco appears intent on expanding its remit beyond classical beauty into lived history and landscapes shaped by belief or resistance.
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Tatler Asia
6 days ago
- Tatler Asia
8 Asian destinations added to the Unesco World Heritage List
Once degraded by tin mining, Forest Research Institute Park (FRIM) near Kuala Lumpur now hosts rehabilitated rainforest, scientific labs and public trails. It stands as Unesco‑recognised evidence of ecological restoration as heritage. 3. Mount Kumgang, Diamond Mountain from the Sea, North Korea A mixed cultural‑natural entry, Mount Kumgang combines soaring granite peaks with historic Buddhist hermitages and living traditions dating to the fifth century. Its designation emphasises intangible spiritual value within a dramatic landscape. 4. Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, South Korea Rock engravings from circa 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE by Ulsan's prehistoric communities were inscribed under the Unesco criteria for pre‑history. The pictorial whales, human shapes and abstract symbols reveal a multi‑millennial visual tradition. 5. Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal, Tajikistan The Ancient Khuttal sites span 11 locations across Tajikistan's Khatlon region. These include the palace of Qalai Hulbuk, the Buddhist site of Ajina‑Teppa with its reclining Buddha, caravanserais, mausolea and fortified towns like Kafyr‑Kala. Once a key hub on the Silk Road from the 7th to 16th century, Khuttal reflects centuries of cultural exchange through its architecture, planning and religious diversity. 6. Xixia Imperial Tombs, China Above China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the Unesco World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. (Photo: Yuan Hongyan / VCG / Getty Images) Nestled in the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwestern China, these necropolises were built by the Tangut rulers of the Xixia Dynasty (1038—1227 CE). The site includes nine imperial mausolea, 271 attendant tombs and flood‑control works, illustrating buried dynastic ritual and Silk Road cultural fusion. 7. Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, Vietnam Encompassing 20 sites across forests and rivers, this complex is the birthplace of Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhism, rooted in 13th‑century Tran Dynasty devotion. Temples, shrines and hilltop pagodas remain active pilgrimage destinations, merging spiritual and historical significance recognised by Unesco. 8. Maratha Military Landscapes, India Twelve forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, including Raigad, Vijayadurg and Gingee, have been inscribed as Unesco cultural heritage. Dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they reflect Maratha military planning and architectural innovation, now India's 44th Unesco listing. Each addition reflects Unesco's evolving definition of heritage. The Cambodian memorials confront recent atrocities head-on within Unesco's frameworks, usually reserved for ancient sites. The Indian forts reframe military infrastructure as cultural storytelling. Meanwhile, Korea's petroglyphs, China's mausolea and Vietnam's Zen landscape underscore intangible cultural continuity tied to place. Unesco appears intent on expanding its remit beyond classical beauty into lived history and landscapes shaped by belief or resistance.
Tatler Asia
13-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
4 picturesque restaurants in Asia where you can dine by the waterfall
2. Hirobun, Kawadoko Nagashi Sōmen, Kibune, Japan The tradition of kawadoko—riverside terraces built above flowing streams—originated as a pragmatic escape from Kyoto's summer heat. It evolved into an artful dining practice combining shade, breeze and water for natural air conditioning. Hirobun, perched steps away from Kibune Shrine, offers the iconic nagashi sōmen during May to September: ultra-thin wheat noodles sent careening down bamboo flumes over cold mountain water, waiting for eager diners with chopsticks in hand. The setting—a shaded riverside tatami counter under cool pine canopy—drops ambient temperature by nearly 10°C from the city below. You might have seen the restaurant on Instagram. Here, a metred 15-minute noodle chase: bundles of somen drift down each bamboo channel, intercepted then dipped in chilled tsuyu broth, often garnished with scallion, ginger, myōga or shikuwasa. Meals typically come with matcha and wagashi dessert.. While it all sounds tailored for a tourist trap, Hirobun exemplifies a living, minimalist ritual that embodies Japan's seasonal harmony. Each slurp invites both chill and charm, pairing food and river, nostalgia and novelty, in one unforgettable Kyoto moment. See more: Shy escapes: 9 quiet destinations for introverts who love to travel 3. Layana Warung, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia Tucked into a jungle fold just north of Ubud's art-laced lanes, Layana Warung is more than a scenic lunch stop. Rather, it's a quiet ode to the island's centuries-old water culture. The restaurant overlooks a real, free-flowing waterfall that meanders past centuries-old rice terraces—part of Bali's Unesco-recognised subak system, an ancient cooperative irrigation network dating back to the 9th century. That alone makes it sacred ground for Balinese Hindus, who revere water as not just life-giving but also divine. The open-air setting frames the falls in full view, with no glass walls or piped-in ambient sounds to interrupt the natural hush. The menu follows suit: earthy turmeric broths and coconut-milk satays are crafted with market-fresh produce from nearby villages, while lemongrass teas and mint-lime juices cool the soul as much as the body. No theatrics—just clear river air, edible tradition and a refreshing sense of pause. It's not just serene. It's spiritual. It's a rare place where Bali's elemental magic—earth, water and ritual—flows directly to the table. 4. The Waterfall Restaurant, Chennai, India Long before immersive dining was a marketing hook, Chennai had The Waterfall Restaurant, a local favourite that melds temple-like reverence for water with joyful overindulgence. Tucked in the heart of the city's T Nagar district, this decades-old institution doesn't serve its meals by a riverbank or mountain stream. Instead, it brings the cascade indoors. Like many of the other waterfall restaurants on this list, this eatery isn't a natural formation. Behind a grand dining hall lies a dramatic 20-foot manmade waterfall wall, built not just for ambience but as a nod to India's long-standing architectural flirtation with water features—from Mughal garden fountains to South Indian temple tanks. The layout is symmetrical and deliberate: rows of tables face the falls directly, ensuring every diner eats with a view (and a soundtrack). The food is unapologetically plentiful: think saffron-scented biryanis, flame-licked Andhra chicken tikka, dosa counters and an unexpected flourish of red velvet cake for dessert. It's all served buffet-style but with theatrical intent, making the meal feel like part feast, part pageant. Here, nature is engineered, but no less atmospheric. This is a maximalist response to the country's love of sound, texture and sensory immersion. It's also a reminder that sometimes, indulgence can be deeply cultural.
Vogue Arabia
03-06-2025
- Vogue Arabia
Meet the Saudi Entrepreneur Turning Taif's Roses into Luxury Products
The damascene rose is a natural treasure bestowed by God upon the city of Taif, bringing hope and love to its inhabitants. They're beautiful in appearance, exquisite in scent, elegant in presence and their reputation precedes them. They live in the peaks and are nourished by the sky. In Taif, roses mean hospitality. They represent a combination of tenderness and toughness. There are tales of women in Taif who continued to tend to their husbands' rose farms out of loyalty after they passed away. They symbolise life renewed; when picked, a new bud appears in its place. Taif's rose industry is steeped in the city's cultural and social fabric. The first damascene rose was planted in Taif 300 years ago and the Taif rose industry has been around as long as modern-day Saudi Arabia. In December 2024, UNESCO included all practices related to the Taif rose in its list of intangible cultural heritage. With a practice so deeply rooted in Taif tradition, it was paramount to me, as Wardat's founder, that we retained its authenticity at all costs. So far we have had a beautiful journey – from increasing the number of Taif rose products on the market to offering Taif rose farm tours and experiences, and creating rose-related content. This delicate flower, which is often known as the 'shy rose', has opened so many doors for me – and not just economically. It has introduced me to the social, cultural and religious heritage of my city. The demand for our Taif roses is huge, far surpassing the city's capacity supply. At Wardat, customers often reserve our roses in December, ahead of the harvest season in April, and our client list includes sheikhs from GCC countries. Taif rose oil is considered one of the most expensive perfumes in the world – the price of 1 tola (the equivalent of 12ml) costs over SAR 2,000. For this reason, it is called 'the royal perfume' and is one of the most highly coveted natural products in the world. Photo: Fahad Al Shanbari shot near Jabal Cafe, Taif
