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The first places of worship which man built were
semi-circular mounds (like upturned bowls.) In India these were known as
Stupas, as 
Dagoba in Sri Lanka and Chorten in Tibet. These originally
marked the site of Buddha's ashes or holy texts. They were solid, with no
internal space.
To worship a Buddhist circled them. As time went by and
Buddhism extended into different countries so the Stuppa developed into
the Temple of today. In China and Japan its shape became taller and thinner. In Japan they are known as
Pagodas. Each part of the Pagoda
is a
different shape and each stands for the 5 elements of earth, water, wind,
fire and space /void. Later
long halls (Chantyas) extended from the
Stupa. Around these cells were
built (Viharas)
Temples are often highly gilded and colourfully
decorated.
The Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar has towers covered in gold and
the top of the main Pagoda is encrusted with rubies, diamonds and a huge
emerald.
Within the Temples images of Buddha and the
bodhisattvas appear.
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