Wat Khao Khunpanom : Nakhon Si Thamarat

This temple is at Moo 3, Tambol Baan Koh, take Highway 4016 from the city to 21st Milestone pass Promloke Market, turn right into the street for another 2.5 km.

Wat Khao Khunpanom is an important temple in history and archaeology. It has caves with cement wall and markers like the city wall. The front wall is decorated with chinaware. Inside the caves are about 30 statues of Buddha made from copper and a copper Buddha’s footprint.

Some of the caves here are connected. It was assumed that this was the residency of King Taksin the Great but some said it was the recreation place of Princess Kaesinee the daughter of Chao Nara Suriyawong, who ruled Nakhonsithammarat from 1769 to 1776.

From the conversation of the monk at this temple, there are many who believe that this was the place King Taksin came to make merit with his followers after being abdicated from the throne. He later died while being a monk at this temple. On the walkway up the hill, there’s a Science Centre for Study of Khao Khunpanom to give knowledge in science, technology, environment and eco-tourism to the public.

The community of Khao Khumpanom is a cultural community. There are many activities such as boy-scout camping & meeting, tourism group to visit fruit orchards with bicycles, etc.

Photo credits to www.thai-tour.com
[source: www.nakhontourism.org]

Tags: Wat Khao Khunpanom/Nakhon Si Thamarat/buddhist temple/Thailand/thai temple/wat thai

Thai Style Monk’s House at Wat Wang West : Nakhon Si Thamarat

It’s situated on Ratchadamnern Road on the area that is believed to be opposite the East Palace that belonged to Chaojom Prang. It used to be a park and later Chaophaya Nakhon (Noi) gave the East Palace and the park opposite to the temple so it became Wat Wang West (West Palace Temple). In 1888, Prakroo Kachad (Yong) and his disciples had built a set of monk’s house with 3 buildings consisted of gabled-roof, each roof connected to each other. The houses used carved- wooden partitions. The doors, windows and ventilators were decorated with unique Nakhon-style. In 1992 the Siam Architectural Society had picked
[source: www.nakhontourism.org]

Tags : Wat Wang West /Nakhon Si Thamarat /buddhist temple /Thai temple

Wat Si Mongkhon Tai : Mukdahan

Wat Si Mongkhon Tai is near the immigration checkpoint. The temple houses an important Buddha image of the province, Phra Chao Ong Luang, an image built before the citys founding. This brick image is 2.2 metres wide and 2 metres high. According to legend, the first lord of Mukdahan discovered it while he was overseeing the citys construction. In addition, another image made of steel was found under a Bodi tree with only its top part protruding from the ground.

Photo credits to www.thai-tour.com

Tags: Wat Si Mongkhon Tai/Mukdahan/buddhist temple/Thailand/thai temple/wat thai

Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (King Narais Palace) : Lopburi (2)

[Photo credits to www.tat.or.th]

Structures built during the reign of King Narai the Great include:

Chantara Phaisan Pavilion

The first Palace of King Narai the Great in Lop Buri, the Pavilion was subsequently turned into an audience hall after he moved his residence to the Suttha Sawan Pavilion. The fact that the building is of pure Thai architectural style indicates that no French architects were involved in the design and construction process. King Rama IV (King Mongkut of the Ratanakosin era) restored the building in 1863. The Pavilion was once used by the privy-council as a meeting hall. Now, it serves as a hall displaying archaeological and art objects, especially the Lop Buri-style stone Buddha images, historic paintings from the era of King Narai the Great and Buddhist art objects from the Ayutthaya and Ratanakosin period.

Phra Khlang Supharat

This compound was built as a place to store royal treasures and royal goods sold to foreign merchants during the late 1600s. It is commonly known as the Twelve Treasure Houses.

Elephant and Horse Stables

This compound is located close to the wall separating the outer and middle sections of the Palace.

The Water Reservoir

Constructed during the reign of King Narai the Great, the reservoir stored water which came from a freshwater lake Tale Chupsorn, through the well designed terra cotta pipes. Tale Chupsorn was the main lake supplying drinking water to Lop Buri residents.

The Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall

Constructed under the royal command of King Narai the Great, the Hall was formerly used by King Narai as an audience hall receiving high-ranking foreign ambassadors. This was the place where the King received Chevalier de Chaumont, the representative of King Louis XIV of France. The Hall was built in a perfect blending of French and Thai architectural styles.

The Suttha Sawan Pavilion

The Pavilion was once located amidst a beautifully decorated garden with ponds and fountains. This was the place where King Narai the Great resided and died on 11 July 1688. Apart from the Pavilion, which had been restored by King Mongkut, only the remains of man-made hills and fountains can be seen.

Kraison Siharat Hall

Commonly known as Phra Thinang Yen, the Hall is located on an island in a dried up lake, Thale Chupson, which once supplied fresh drinking water to the people of Lop Buri. Kraison Siharat Hall was used as the residence of King Narai, Jesuits and envoys of King Louis XIV of France when they came to witness a lunar eclipse on 11 December, 1685

Phra Chao Hao Building

Built by King Narai the Great, the building is located to the south of the outer section of the palace. Serving as the Kings private audience hall, the building featured Thai-style architecture of which it is currently possible to see only the remains of wall sections with visible decorative motifs at the doors and windows.

Banquet Hall

Surrounded on three sides by ponds, the Hall was built to entertain important foreign visitors. One of the remains includes a brick platform facing the Hall, which was used as a stage or theater possibly for shadow plays or dances indicating that the place was once used as an entertainment compound.

Phiman Mongkut Pavilion

This pavilion was a three-story brick building where King Rama IV (King Mongkut) resided when he visited Lop Buri during the renovation of the Palace. Connected to the pavilion are three other buildings namely Suttha Winitchai Pavilion, Chai Sattrakon Pavilion and Akson Sattrakhom. All of these buildings are now being used as the offices of the Lop Buri National Museum.

Phra Prathiap Building

A group of eight two-story buildings built behind King Mongkut's residence (Phiman Mongkut Pavilion), which were used as residences for inner court officials.

Royal Guards Residence

This is located at the entrance of the middle court.

Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (King Narais Palace) : Lopburi (1)

Tags: Phra Narai Ratchaniwet/Lopburi/Thailand/ancient/Palace

Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (King Narais Palace) : Lopburi (1)

[Photo credits to www.tat.or.th]

The palace was built in 1665 and 1677, when King Narai the Great decided to make Lop Buri the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Although the buildings were designed by with the contributions of French architects, the Khmer influence was still strong. The Palace was a perfect blend of the both world, an awesome mixture of Khmer-European styles.

After the death of King Narai the Great in 1688, the palace was deserted. It was not until the reign of King Rama IV during the Ratanakosin era, that the Palace was restored and renamed Narai Ratchaniwet.

The Palace is located in the town center, between Ratchadamnoen Road and Pratu Chai Road. The whole complex has been turned into the Lop Buri National Museum (commonly known as King Narai National Museum).

The Palace can be accessed through the Pratu Phayakkha, which is currently a town park, located off Sorasak Road. The Palace opens Wednesdays through Sundays from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Within the Palace lies a number of compounds containing pavilions, some built during the reign of King Narai and others constructed during the reign of King Rama IV.

Tags: Phra Narai Ratchaniwet/Lopburi/Thailand/ancient/Palace

Wat Phra Si Maha That : Lopburi

The oldest temple with tallest Prang in Lop Buri, Wat Phra Si Maha That is located behind the railway station near the San Phra Kan. The Lop-Buri style prang in front of the temple was built around 1157 when the town came under Khmer rule. The U-Thong style Buddha images on the prang and the large viharn were later added by King Narai the Great. The laterite prang still has some original lintels and stucco work intact. A number of other chedis and prangs - most of which were restored were greatly influenced by both the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya styles.

The admission fee is 50 baht each. A package ticket is also visiting at 150 baht each, covering admission to Phra Prang Sam Yot, Vichayen House and Kraison Siharat Hall

[ Photo credits to http://lms.thaicyberu.go.th ]

Tags: Wat Phra Si Maha That/Lopburi/buddhist temple/ancient/thai temple/wat thai

Wat Phra Bat Huai Tom : Lamphun

Wat Phra Bat Huai Tom is the largest temple in the district, boasting a large Lanna-style Chedi and an extensive place of worship built in laterite by Karens living in the vicinity who were admirers of the highly revered Phra Kru Ba Chaiwongsa. The temple is about 5 kilometres off Highway No. 106 at Km. 47. About 2 kilometres from Li is a group of five old pagoda known as the Chedi Ha Duang The site is believed to have been an ancient town. Covering an area of over 1,000 square kilometres is the Mae Ping National Park. Its main feature is the Ping River, which flows through the forests in the park. On both sides are fertile forest-lands with sheer cliffs providing beautiful natural scenery. Certain parts of the waterway spread out to form reservoir-like bodies of water with numerous small islands and rapids.

[Photo source: www.rakpratat.com]

Tags: Lamphun/Wat Phra Bat Huai Tom/buddhist temple/Thailand Temple/Wat/thai temple

Wat Phra That Chom Ping and Wat Si Rong Mueang : Lampang

Wat Phra That Chom Ping :
Using the same route as Wat Phra That Lampang Luang but taking a left turn at the district office and continue on for 14 kilometres is Wat Phra That Chom Ping. Another age-old temple of Lampang, its unique feature is the reflections in natural colors of Chedi which appear on the floor within the dark interior of the Ubosot.

Wat Si Rong Mueang :
To the west of town is Wat Si Rong Mueang , a Burmese temple built in 1905 during the time when Lampang was the commercial and forestry centre. Major architectural works include the Vihan made of wood with several overlapping gables in the Burmese style. It is a temple with elaborate carving decorations and plaster designs adorned with colored glass fashioned with delicate craftsmanship.

Photo source: www.lampangcity.go.th, www.thai-tour.com

Tags : Wat Phra That Chom Ping/Wat Si Rong Mueang/Lampang /thai temple/Thailand Temple/buddhist temple

Wat Tham Suea ( Tiger Cave Temple ) : Krabi

Wat Tham Suea, also known as "Tiger cave Temple," is located in the Khiriwong Valley amidst lush forests and mountains with large trees over a hundred years old approximately 9 kilometers northeast of Krabi Town. Aside from being the site of a meditation center, the compound is also a place of archaeological and historical interest as excavations have uncovered stone tools, pottery remains and Buddha footprint crafting molds. In addition, a cave in the compound has what appears to be tiger paw prints in the stone.

Photo source : www.watthumsuakrabi.com

Tags : Wat Tham Suea/Tiger Cave Temple/Krabi/Thai temple/buddhist temple

Wat Phra That Doi Tung : Chiang Rai

Wat Phra That Doi Tung is located on top of Doi Tung Mountain, the highest mountain in Chiang Rai Province with an elevation of approximately 2,000 meters, about 50 kilometers south of Mae Sai town which is near the Myanmar border. The temple can be reached via a 40-kilometer mountain road which meanders along the mountainside. The journey is worthwhile as the panoramic views into Laos and Myanmar at the peak are spectacular.

Wat Phra That Doi Tung was constructed in the 10th century and was renovated by Chiang Rai's most famous ruler King Mengrai during the 13th century and by the famous Chiang Mai monk, Khru Ba Siwichai, at the turn of the 20th century.

The temple complex is comprised of twin Lanna style chedis, one of which is said to contain the left collarbone of the Lord Buddha. Throughout the year, the holy relic draws devout Buddhists from all over Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

Tags : Wat Phra That Doi Tung/Chiang Rai/Thailand/Thai temple/buddhist temple

Royal Palace : Ayutthaya

Currently called “Ancient Palace”. The residential palace of every king was located close to the city wall of Ayutthaya. A road passes by from Chantharakasem Palace, which is two kilometres away to the north. Important buildings inside the Grand Palace compound are :

Wihan Somdet Hall The top of this hall has been decorated in a unique style of architecture called Prang. It has longer space in front and rear gabled rooms, and shorter space in the side gabled rooms. It was surrounded with a three-sided cloister and utilized for various royal ceremonies such as coronations. This was the first building over constructed in Ayutthaya to be affixed with gold leaf.

Sanphet Prasat Hall This is the middle building construted in the same design as Wihan Somdet Hall. Kings used it to welcome foreign envoys and visitors.

Suriyat Amarin Hall A four-gabled roof building constructed of sandstone and brick ; it is close to the riverside city wall. It was used as a place to witness the royal barge processions.

Chakkrawat Phaichayon Hall With a three-gabled roof, it is on the inner eastern city wall in front of the Grand Palace. It was used to view processions and military practice.

Trimuk Hall This is located behind the Sanphet Prasat Hall. It is believed to have been the residential area of the consort members and is also the royal relaxing place in the garden.

Banyong Rattanat Hall Formerly known by the name of “Phra Thinang Thaisa”, it is located in the back compound of the Grand Palace on an Island in a pond. It has a four-gabled roof architecture.

Remains of the throne halls that are left to be seen at present were constructed in the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat and used to serve as royal residences for all later kings.

Open daily during 6.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.

Admission is 50 Baht each. A package ticket is also available at 220 Baht each, covering admission to temples and museums within the province and valid for 30 days, including Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Ancient Palace Complex, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Chai Watthanaram and Wat Maheyong. For more details, please call Tel. 0 3524 2501, 0 3524 4570.

Photo source : wikipedia

Tags : Royal Palace /Ayutthaya /Ayutthaya Period /Ancient Palace /Thailand

Wat Chaiyo Worawihan or Wat Ket Chaiyo : Ang Thong

Wat Ket Chaiyo is situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, approximately 18 kilometers away from Amphoe Mueang Ang Thong, on Ang Thong Sing Buri route. This is the second-class royal monastery. Formerly it was a small ordinary temple constructed in the Ayutthaya period with the unknown building date. Later in the reign of King Rama IV, this temple was noted when Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) a revered monk of Wat Rakhangkhositaram in Thonburi constructed a large seated Buddha image in the posture of meditation made of white plaster.

In the reign of King Rama V, His Majesty the King went to worship the image and had Wat Chaiyo renovated in 1887 but the vibration from ramming piles of the wihan caused the large Buddha image to collapse. The king then commanded to build a new large Buddha image following the pattern of the large Buddha image at Wat Kalayanamit. The new one has the lap width of 16.10 meters and the height (from radiance to feet) of 22.65 meters and was graciously named Phra Mahaphutthaphim. There was the biggest celebration for the image ever held in Ang Thong at that time. The molded statue of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) constructed in 1894, having the lap width of 5 meters and the height of 7 meters, has been enshrined in the wihan facing the Chao Phraya River.

The large Buddha image housed in this wihan is larger, more elegant, and more remarkable wihan than any other, therefore, Buddhists from various parts of the country have continuously paid homage to this image. In front of the wihan, the ubosot facing the was constructed using the magnificent Thai architectural design. Inside the ubosot, there are mural paintings depicting scenes of the Lord Buddhas chronicles painted by the artisan in the reign of King Rama V, and the molded statue of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) from Thonburi. At present, Chao Phraya RiverWat Chaiyo Worawihan has been renovated to exhibit its distinctive beauty.

Photo credits to kedchaiyo.com, dhammathai.org

Tags: Buddha image/Wat Ket Chaiyo/Ang Thong/wat thai/Thailand temple/thai temple/buddhist temple

Wat Phra Thaen Sila At : Uttaradit

[ Photo : ecurriculum.mv.ac.th ]

A little further from Wat Phra Yun, some 14 kilometres from town is Wat Phra Thaen Sila At. The major feature is the base of a sermon platform built with laterite. The square slab with pattern is believed to have been made during the Sukhothai Period. Annual celebrations are held at the three temples in February.

Tags : Wat Phra Thaen Sila At /Uttaradit/Thailand/Thai temple/buddhist temple

Wat Khao Wong : Uthai Thani

Wat Khao Wong is a temple in a valley. It has a beautiful two-storey Thai-style convocation hall. The area has been exquisitely landscaped. The monastery is the 13th of 19 branches of Wat Sangkhathan in Nonthaburi that are in places such as Chiang Mai, Um Phang, the United Kingdom, and India. The monastery was built in 1987 and has a total area of 320,000 square metres. The surrounding area is mountain and forest.

The most striking feature of Khao Wong Monastery is the 4-storey Thai-style multi-purpose pavilion. Built almost entirely of wood, the pavilion has a pond in front with many fish. Around the pond is a garden of colourful flowers. The wood used in the pavilion’s construction was donated by locals and has been transformed into a work of architecture that retains natural qualities. The monastery has a monthly meditation class for those who are interested.

Getting There: Use the same route as Phu Wai Cave. It is about 3 kilometres before reaching the cave (there is a cooperative store selling souvenirs and free accommodation for up to 200 persons).

Tags : Wat Khao Wong /Uthai Thani/Thailand/Thai temple

Prasat Yai Ngao : Surin

[ photo credits to www.surinpao.org ]

This Khmer ruin consists of 3 towers, only 2 of which remain now, lying on laterite platforms in North - South direction. The Fine Arts Department has laid down recovered pieces in the compound’s front yard, including the tower vertex, balusters and portal frame, etc. Bas - relief found in this ruin depicts legendary animal called makon, an amalgam of lion, elephant and fish, with five - headed serpent in its mouth. The bas - relief depicting serpents resemble that of the Angkor Wat, contrived in the 12 th century.

Tags : Prasat Yai Ngao/ancient ruin/sanctuary/Thailand

Prasat Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai : Si Sa Ket

[ Photo credits to www.hotelsguidethailand.com]

The sanctuary is Si Sa Ket's largest Khmer stone structure. There are 3 pagodas on the same base from north to south and facing west. The middle building is the main pagoda made of sandstone and some bricks.

The other 2 pagodas are made of bricks with some sand stone decorations such as a lintel and doorway frame. Behind the southern pagoda stands another brick pagoda and in front of there are 2 brick chapels surrounded by a crooked porch of laterite and sandstone. Doorway face all 4 directions. The main pagoda features a lintel of the god Indra god Naria lying on a pedestal over Naga. The pagoda of the south has another lintel of the gods Shiva and Uma seated.

Tags : Prasat Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai/Si Sa Ket/Thailand/ancient ruin/Khmer sanctuary

Prang Chong Don Tuan : Si Sa Ket

[ Photo credits to soathongchai.com ]

This is on a steep cliff in the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range near the Thai-Cambodian border, 8 kilometres from Ban Phumisaron or 38 kilometres from the district office. This small Khmer site has a square pagoda built of brick, a doorway of stone and a lion guarding the entrance.

Tags : Prang Chong Don Tuan/Si Sa Ket/Thailand/ancient ruin/Prang

Wat Phra That Rueang Rong : Si Sa Ket

This temple is 8 kilometres away on the Si Sa Ket-Yang Chum Noi road. The site has a traditional design. The area is used for religious ceremonies and as a museum to display the life of Isan tribes such as Lao, Khmer, Suai, and Yoe.

Tags : Wat Phra That Rueang Rong/Si Sa Ket/Thailand/Thai temple

Wat Khao Kaeo : Saraburi

[ Photo credits to tourismthailand ]

Wat Khao Kaeo Worawihan is situated in Ton Tan Sub-district, on the right side of the Pa Sak River, 6 kilometres from Sao Hai District Office. When King Rama IV visited Sao Hai District, he ordered the renovation of this temple and promoted it as a royal temple. There has been a rumor that there used to be a bright crystal ball over the Wihan of Wat Khao Kaeo on some nights. It is considered a miracle of the sacred object contained inside the Chedi. Inside the small 5-spired Chedi situated between the bell tower and the main chedi reside the adorned Buddha image, Buddha image in the Palelai (Palilayaka) posture, and the Lord Buddha’s footprint. All of these are beautiful.

Tags: Saraburi/Wat Khao Kaeo/thai temple/Thailand temple/Buddha image

Wat Protketchettharam : Samut Prakarn

[ Photo credits to www.culture.go.th ]

Located at Tambon Song Kha Nong, this is the only Thai-Buddhism temple in Phra Pradaeng. Other temples are of the Mon-Buddhism sect. Phraya Phetphichai built it during the reign of King Rama II. A distinct and unique architectural characteristic of the temple is that its roof is covered with ancient Mon ceramic shingles, without any decorations on the temple roof. The front of the main building, Ubosot, above the entrance, is done with stucco adorned with vine lines and decorated with ancient porcelain and ceramic pieces. Inside, there is a cast-metal Buddha image in the attitude of Subduing Mara.

The second main building, Wiharn, has the same architecture as the first building. Inside the second main building, there is a reclining Buddha of which the face is very beautiful. Above the windows, there are the pictures of Dhamma Riddles of western arts style, which is extremely rare. Another building, Mondop, has a roof that is covered with ceramic shingles and decorated with small Chinese pavilions all around the edge of the roof. It enshrines Buddha images in many the attitudes and has chedis at all 4 corners. Inside the Mondop, there are Buddha images and the replication of Lord Buddha's Footprint, decorated with pearl inset.

Tags : Samut Prakarn /Wat Protketchettharam /thai temple /buddhist temple /Thailand Temple

Wat Yai Suwannaram : Phetchaburi

[ Photo credits to www.thai-tour.com ]

This is another important temple in the town, situated 1 km. east of the city hall. The main shrine hall has no windows. It contains 300-year-old mural paintings of mythical angels. The multi-purpose hall (Sala Kanprian), once located in Ayutthaya's Grand Palace, was entirely built of teak wood and decorated with fine carving work especially at the door panels. The hall also houses a preaching throne with intricate wood carvings and gold gilt works of Bangkok design.

Tags: Wat Yai Suwannaram/Phetchaburi/Temple/Thailand temple/ancient temple

Wat Sa Bor Kaew : Phrae

Located on NamKhu Road next to the city moats is Wat Sa Bo Kaeo. This temple has an exotic and beautiful pagoda. The marble Buddha image is also in Burmese style. It is a very splendid temple. It is also where Burmese monks who travel to Thailand to study the Buddhist scripture stay.

Tags: Phrae/Wat Sa Bor Kaew/thai temple/Thailand temple/Burmese style

Wat Phra That Cho Hae : Phrae

Wat Phra That Cho Hae is the most famous temple in Phrae. This temple is about 8 kilometres to the east of town on Highway No. 1022. A major religious site of the province, it was built since the time of Sukhothai. The 33 metre-tall Chiang Saen-style Chedi houses a Holy Relic. It was built of bricks and covered with bright brass sheets. The name of the temple refers to fine silk woven in Sip Song Panna (in southern China) which was first used to wrap around the Chedi when the temple was first constructed. There is a fair celebrating the Chedi in March every year.

Tags: Phrae/Wat Phra That Cho Hae/thai temple/Thailand temple/temple