Grotesque statues of figures from Buddhist hell haunt the temple's Sin Park.

Thailand's distressed elephants find peace at this Chiang Mai sanctuary.

The headquarters of the Mahanikai school of Buddhism, Thailand's largest monastic order.

A tall karst islet popularized by 007.

Where the White Nile River dramatically cascades between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert in Uganda.

The haunting beauty of this little-visited wreck makes it a true hidden treasure.

An abandoned water park overtaken by the dunes.

The world's largest impact crater is mainly eroded but still remembers the planet's violent history.

Local lore says a serpent-like beast lurks in the deep basin below the falls.

A neglected bell tower in modern Colombo is a symbol of the city's colonial past.

This ancient cave temple complex is the largest and best-preserved temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Spend the night inside a two-story elephant villa.

An ancient temple to the Hindu god Shiva surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery.

According to one local legend, this image was created during a battle between a wild lioness and the archangel Michael.

This fairytale-like structure is the last turf church ever constructed in Iceland.

This replica Viking village was created for a film that was never shot and is now open to visitors.

These ominous lava formations were said to be an entrance to the netherworld so of course they inspired a famous metal band.

Admire endangered plants in a verdant garden that looks straight out of a Monet painting.

Once the hottest nightclub in France, Amnesia now lies in ruins after a 2000 bombing.

This emotive sculpture was originally created for the 1878 World's Fair.

Now a memorial, this factory was once used as a concentration camp for artists by the Vichy government.

Thousands of flamingos and other bird species flourish in these Camargue wetlands.

An image of the legendary saint stands in the shadow of a cathedral she liberated.

This castle-fortress is a living example of the transition from medieval defenses to modern fortifications.