Koh Lanta Old Town, located on Koh Lanta’s East coast, was once the island’s main port for trade. Now Lanta Old Town is a charming place to visit which looks and feels like it’s stood still in time.
Lanta Old Town was originally a sea gypsy settlement. Over the decades it transformed into a village influenced by trade. Now you can enjoy many shops, restaurants and homes built on stilts above the sea. This is great when the tide is in and also overlooks other islands and the mainland allowing amazing views.
The Old Town has a distinct Chinese influence and a very slow, laid back feel. Walking around looking at the lanterns gives you a sense of days gone by. While still a fishing village for the locals, much of Old Town’s trade now comes through tourism with gift shops selling local goods.
Lanta Old Town also has a museum which traces back the life and times of Koh Lanta. The museum is free to enter and is ran by the locals as a way to showcase the 3 distinct communities that have...
Bangkok, Thailand, is home to numerous temples, but nine are often considered particularly sacred due to their historical, cultural, and spiritual significance. These temples, known as “wat” in Thai, are revered for their religious importance and architectural beauty. Below is a brief description of nine sacred temples in Bangkok, commonly associated with spiritual merit-making and the “Nine Temples Tour” popular among locals and visitors:
1. Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)Located within the Grand Palace, this is Thailand’s holiest temple, housing the sacred Emerald Buddha, a jade statue. The complex is renowned for its ornate architecture, vibrant murals, and golden stupas.
2. Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)Situated along the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun is famous for its porcelain-encrusted spires that shimmer at sunrise and sunset. Its central prang symbolizes Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain in Hindu-Buddhist cosmology.
3. Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)Home to a massive ...
Tako Temple or Wat Tako is widely known as the place where Luang Pho Ruai, a famous monk from Ayutthaya stayed. The temple is a modern design with 2 halls built in the Ayutthaya style.
Luang Pho Ruai was ordained as a novice at Wat Tako until he reached the age to be ordained to enter the monkshood. After becoming a monk he spent his career developing Wat Tako and helping it grow in the community for over 70 years.
Phrakhru Sunthonthamwinit (Luang Pho Ruai Pasathiko) passed away in 2017, at the age of 95 with 76 years in the monkshood. His disciples kept his body for 100 days after his death . When they opened the coffin they found out that the body had not decayed. After discovering this they kept the body in a glass coffin inside Mahathat Pasathiko Pagoda so that disciples and people can pay homage.
The beautiful Mahathat Pagoda of Tako Temple was began to be constructed in 2014. The area around the pagoda is an open space to for people who come to view the body of Luang Pho Ruai. The ...
Prasat Nakhon Luang, often translated as “Royal City Castle,” is a historic ruin and temple complex located in Nakhon Luang District, approximately 20km northeast of the ancient city of Ayutthaya in central Thailand.
Situated on the eastern bank of the Pa Sak River, it served as a royal residence and stopover point during the Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th-18th centuries). The site blends Khmer-influenced architecture with later Thai Buddhist elements, making it a unique example of Siamese royal and religious heritage.
Today, it forms part of Wat Nakhon Luang temple and is a lesser-visited gem among Ayutthaya’s UNESCO-listed ruins, attracting history enthusiasts with its serene lotus ponds and photogenic brick structures.
The structure’s history is tied to the Ayutthaya period, a time when the kingdom exerted influence over Khmer territories. Construction is generally dated to 1631, shortly after King Prasat Thong ascended the throne in 1629, founding a new dynasty after a period of political instability. ...
