Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan, one of the most sacred cities in Buddhism, is home to the ruins of over two thousand temples and stupas. During its height as the ancient capital of the powerful Pagan Empire, over 10,000 temples and stupas once stood. Today, the temples are largely in ruins as far as the eye can see, their interiors decorated with ancient frescoes depicting the life and teachings of the Buddha. The region is prone to severe earthquakes, the most recent striking in 2016 and causing the tops of several structures to collapse. Restoration of these temples has not been without controversy, as human rights advocates have charged Myanmar's government with using forced and child labor to repair these structures in the interest of maintaining steady tourism.