Cambodia: Phnom Penh historic areas
Score: 36
"Wonderful natural and cultural qualities (the Mekong River and the French colonial architecture), but indifference from the government has left it a backwater, challenged by pollution, traffic, congestion, poverty, and unmanaged development. It could have been a great stop on the way to Angkor, but most visitors now avoid it."
"This once exemplary colonial city, depicting the best of French urban planning, is now sadly lost to uncontrolled urban growth and the outright greed of land speculation. A very sad story. But efforts are still needed to save parts of the historic urban fabric to recount the glory and drama of Phnom Penh."
"Beautiful monuments and palaces and a rich French historical past marked by urban buildings with great architecture and aesthetic appeal."
China: Macao historic areas
Score: 54
"A strange combination: casino tourism—the 'hottest' such destination globally (replacing Las Vegas)—with colonial architecture and the Portuguese/Chinese cultural interface. But somehow it works."
"Urban redevelopment threatens to 'enclave' the historic area in very high-rise developments. General lack of interest by most visitors, who come only to gamble."
"Surprisingly, the historic center managed to retain its character to a great extent. However, just beyond the World Heritage buffer zones, new construction is isolating the historic area from rest of the city. Tourism is not well managed; site presentation, and interpretation, is very inadequate."
"The Macao of today is a sad shadow of its former heritage."
India: Amritsar historic areas
Score: 50
"The Golden Temple is as sacred to the Sikhs as Jerusalem and Mecca are to the Jews, Christians, and Muslims."
"One of the world's must-see cultural destinations, all the more so because it is of relatively recent vintage and is so heavily used by devotees. This is not a place that can be visited on one's own; to gain from a visit to the site one needs an informed Sikh guide. Outside the Golden Temple all is chaos, with the historic city of Amritsar fast transforming into a modern Indian metropolis of cars, roads, and shoddy architecture."
"The temple is an oasis of calm, spirituality, and great architecture. However, the immediate surroundings are a mess: haphazard street shops, signs, traffic, and overhead electrical wires."
India: Blue City of Jodhpur historic areas
Score: 58
"The charm of Jodhpur is found in its residential quarters, which are lively but not terribly well conserved. However, the meaning of Jodhpur must be recovered from Mehrangarh Fort and its excellent museum."
"Mehrangarh Fort is recognized as the best managed historic fort in India. However, increasing development, astronomical rises in real estate prices, and development of shopping malls are all threatening the traditional ambience."
"Has some interesting and historic areas, but is polluted and crowded. The overwhelming sense of commerce and traffic noise informs every waking moment."
"Wonderful city with not only monuments of great value but also the vernacular heritage. Ancient water systems need to be conserved."
"Has only recently started to emerge as a stand-alone destination."
"The city center and the historic area of the blue homes need a lot more in terms of sanitation and decongestion of traffic."
India: Golden City of Jaisalmer
Score: 46
"One of the most attractive and charming cities in the world—a great tourist attraction with its sand dunes, camel safaris, magnificent fort and palaces, and unique architecture."
"Beautiful golden fortress city."
"Distinctive location as an isolated border town in the middle of desert, paired with inconvenient transportation, keep development of the place slow."
"While sharing some problems common to other Rajasthan towns and cities, Jaisalmer is far enough off the beaten track to be less destroyed by commercialism."
"Beautiful houses are hidden behind garish signboards as traditional bazaars are transformed into commercial shops catering to tourists. Much of Jaisalmer's charm and magic is compromised by this chaos."
"A vibrant living tradition and culture besides outstanding architecture. Ingress of water and sewage undermines its foundations."
"Need felt by hoteliers to offer swimming pools in this water-scarce area is an issue."
"Imminent risk of collapse of many of the buildings."
India: Khajuraho
Score: 64
"The main sites—the erotic temples—are well maintained."
"So much more to Khajuraho than erotic art. A whole cultural landscape sadly lies hidden. Due to lack of development control, sporadic development has engulfed this town. Though temples are well preserved, there is a need to expand the whole notion of heritage."
"A distorted tourism strategy prioritizes the foreign tourist and prurient voyeurism."
India: Medieval Orchha
Score: 61
"The wall paintings for which Orchha is famous are deteriorating, and in the main temple have been replaced altogether. It urgently requires a conservation management plan with legal teeth to ensure it is sustained."
"The site is largely unspoiled because it is out of the way."
"Great historical importance linked with events during the Mughal period."
"Not heavily developed yet. As a result it has limited tourism. Interesting, but the site needs extensive restoration."
"Much heritage in Orchha is endangered."
India: Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Score: 61
"This smaller city is much like many other Tamil cities in southern India—crowded and chaotic on its outskirts. But its historic core reflects significant French influences, from building styles and French restaurants to street names and French-style police uniforms. This core area and the promenade along the waterfront have considerable charm and historic interest."
"A lovely town combining the best of small-town France and Indian hospitality. Huge property speculation and tourism has led to gentrification."
"A picturesque area with conservation and planning done sustainably. It is an easy destination to navigate. With historic house being converted into hotels by major groups, there is a risk that opportunities for the local population will be in the service sector, not entrepreneurial."
Indonesia: Ubud
Score: 65
"Ubud is, and will continue to be, the cultural capital of Bali. The downtown area is a beehive of activity and the outskirts merge seamlessly into the rice paddies. The temples are in great condition and local dance performances are well attended by tourists."
"Monkey Forest is exemplary for both heritage and ecotourism."
"Visitors who choose to stay in Ubud perhaps tend to be more respectful of the local culture. The big threat to the place is the increasing numbers of tourist buses clogging the narrow streets and creating demands for large parking lots."
"Since it is on Bali, Indonesia's number one island for travelers—which has seen over-development on its coast—a sustainable future is uncertain."
"All the rice fields around Penestanan are now sprouting condos for Australian retirees."
Japan: Ancient Nara
Score: 78
"The deer, the big Buddha, the architecture, the plants and flowers, and the courtesy of local people make this a delightful visitor destination."
"National and local government agencies keep a watchful eye over this ancient capital; the result is stringent preservation regulations."
"Nara is not as charming a destination as it was 20 years ago due to the incremental redevelopment of the city and the sanitization of the environment around the temples. Restoration and maintenance is immaculate."
Japan: Kamakura
Score: 74
"Kamakura doesn't match Kyoto or Nara for its historic features, but works wonderfully as a modern city and seaside destination for Japanese tourists. I felt I had stepped into a Kawabata novel when I visited."
"Still functions as a community and religious site. Some infringement of modernity, but I like the mix. Not as sanitized as other places."
"The Kamakura Buddha and nearby monasteries are in good shape, but the area is very heavily visited and feels a bit overrun by tourism."
Japan: Nikko historic areas
Score: 81
"A temple site composed of three religious precincts located in a large, mountainous public park."
"Nikko is in an especially beautiful part of Japan, and its hills, waterfalls, and general environment are well maintained. Japanese tea gardens, perfectly manicured, provide an excellent backdrop. Japanese monks welcome tourists, and there does not appear to be any conflict. Stewardship is very professional and addresses primarily the domestic visitor."
"Well-protected historic buildings. The main shrines are generally overloaded by tour groups, but the aesthetic appeal of the historic center remains high."
"Beautiful and walkable. Nearby natural areas—at higher elevation—add to Nikko's general attractiveness. Problems with monkey population."
"So well-ordered I am wishing for an explosion of the monkey population."
Laos: Luang Prabang
Score: 59
"An isolated historic town in a mountainous area of a developing country, severely affected by tourism gentrification. Natural beauty comes from its unique location on Mekong River."
"One of the most charming and authentic historic small towns in Asia, Luang Prabang is fast becoming spoiled as all tourist facilities and support services are re-colonized by French commercial interests. The biggest loser in all of this are the town's famous temples, which are fast being turned into tourist communities by people who don't know and don't care about their religious significance. Go now, or don't go at all. That being said, accommodation and food are excellent and of excellent value."
"Many old stately homes have become boutique hotels, several of them quite stunningly renovated from what three years ago appeared to be 'lost causes,' they were so dilapidated."
"One of the few remaining towns with grace and charm. The poverty of the region and the country may force catastrophic change."
"The 'real' here is starting to seem like a play performed for an audience."
"Residences are now turning into guest houses, local shops are being replaced by shops owned by foreigners, the morning alms-giving ceremony is becoming a tourist show."
Malaysia: Georgetown
Score: 64
"The core of this city has amazing early 20th-century shop-house architecture and authentic charm. Walking around here is like taking a time machine back to, say, Hong Kong in 1950. The tourism development is just about right, which is to say, minimal. There is one street (Armenian) that seems to be developing as an art gallery/restaurant center. The downtown is a working downtown of shopkeepers. The most extraordinary sites are the Clan Temples, which are functioning community centers, not tourist attractions. I hope Penang can resist the pressure to Disneylandize itself."
"Strong development pressures—classic fight of the lion and the lamb. Right on the border of being preserved or collapsing."
"Street life, street markets, religious ceremonies, and streetscapes provide a highly aesthetic whole. Tourism focuses on Chinese and British history. Too little site interpretation and presentation."
"Still a gem, and a good example of citizens working hard to keep the integrity intact."
"Local guides were excellent, but inappropriate development and overall conservation practices means there is little historic integrity left."
Malaysia: Old port of Malacca
Score: 50
"One of the most fascinating destinations in Asia. It is rich in history as a gateway into Asia for early Europeans. The old churches, China Town, and vernacular Malay houses are beautifully maintained."
"The major problem for Malacca is the incredible extent of the land reclamation that has taken place at the mouth of the historic river, now heavily developed with high-rise residential and commercial buildings. As a result, the historic connection between Malacca and the sea, which is fundamental to its significance, has been almost totally obscured."
"There is very little left in Malacca that is authentic. The city has been Disneyfied and commercialized to a degree that has to be seen to be believed."
"Landfill on the town side of the Straits has forever altered the historic connection with the Straits."
"You have to make an extra effort to find 'authentic' Malacca behind the very carefully manicured heritage facade."
Sri Lanka: Galle
Score: 64
"Since the 2004 tsunami, Galle has, in fact, improved as a tourist destination. The tsunami made local inhabitants more aware that they cannot just take their heritage for granted. As a result, new museums and excellent new hotels have gone up, and some important old buildings have been restored. There is however, little interpretation of the site—and no interpretation of the important underwater cultural heritage of shipwrecks from the Portuguese, Dutch, and British periods."
"The Galle Fort Hotel is as close to a Graham Green scene as you'll find these days."
"Galle fort and the historic Dutch settlement inside the fortifications retain their cultural identity."
Thailand: Ayutthaya
Score: 53
"Ayutthaya has some excellent heritage sites. But the sites are poorly managed; there is no access control, which means anyone can enter the site from almost any direction. Interpretation facilities are very inadequate. The heads of almost all Buddha statues are missing."
"Dedicated to the preservation of dead monuments while neglecting valuable living culture and settlements that help maintain the integral value of a historic place. Domestic crime, especially involving youths, degrades social environment and discourages economic opportunities in the town; tourism is sometimes believed to be the cause and/ or the effect."
"The monuments of Ayutthaya are dispersed around a rapidly growing city under clouds of smog and dust."
Vietnam: Hanoi historic areas
Score: 56
"The old part of Hanoi is attractive but is becoming very busy, commercial, and somewhat over-developed. Pedestrian zones are recommended."
"Hanoi is not a Hong Kong or a Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), or a Shanghai undergoing constant high-rise construction. Surprisingly, some of the back streets in the old French Quarter and the strip parks around the inner lakes retain immense charm."
"The parks and public areas are very well maintained, and the visit to Ho Chi Minh's tomb is still an exceptional experience."
"The 36 Streets area of Hanoi is lively and full of charm, but low on authenticity. The Thang Long citadel is authentic but presented without interpretation and therefore meaningless; in fact, boring to visit. Other so-called historic sites in Hanoi are all modern reconstructions. The problem in Hanoi is that while the city is beautiful and full of charm and an easy urbanity, the story told to the tourist is heavy handed and just not historically accurate."
Vietnam: Hoi An
Score: 61
"A great place to be when the tourism buses have left in the afternoon."
"Authentic, accurately restored, and well-managed small town that has been brought back from sure death by culture-tourism industry. The problem is that it is just too small to accommodate all the tourists who want to visit it."
"What makes it unique is the historical blending of cultural influences."
"Beautiful architecturally, but the whole town has been 'repurposed' as a shopping opportunity for tourists; ultimately not a satisfying experience to visit."