Ibrahim Jabbari
WHERE: Chiang Mai, Thailand
This gilded temple sits inside Doi Suthep National Park, a verdant escape from downtown Chiang Mai. Legend has it that Doi Suthep was built here in the late 14th century because an elephant carrying religious relics from Chiang Mai climbed up to the 3,542-foot summit and decided to stay. To get here, climb 304 steps, the staircase flanked by 16th-century balustrades in the shape of nagas (mythical snakes), or hop on the funicular. The national park itself is lovely, with hiking trails for varying levels of climbers and rushing waterfalls.
