Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Thanks to an oppressive military regime that's held power for 45 years, the country once known as Burma doesn't draw the same tourist crowds as its Southeast Asian neighbors. But foreigners who visit the politically unstable nation are rewarded with the stunning, ancient Burmese capital, Bagan. More than 13,000 temples, pagodas and other religious structures were built here, starting in 200 A.D. and ending when Kublai Khan conquered the area in 1287. More than 2,000 ruins remain standing, including the 167-foot-tall Ananda Temple, whose shining gilded pagoda makes every sunset unforgettable.