Wat Prang Luang วัดปรางค์หลวง is an ancient Thai Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi province, it is believed to be the oldest monastery and archaeological site in Nonthaburi and the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. It is situated along Khlong Om Non, also known as Khlong Bangkok Noi.
The temple was previously called Wat Luang วัดหลวง meaning royal temple. It was presumably built in reign of the King Ramathibodi I (U-Thong) the first monarch and founder of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, more than 650 years ago. It is believed that this location used to be his residence after the cholera evacuation, before the establishment of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Later in the Bangkok era the name was changed to Wat Prang Luang.
The prang is old and has had redtoration wirk done to it due to the dilapidated state it was in. It has been archaeological proven to date back to the early Ayutthaya period with a different structure than the other prangs of the same period.
A principal ...
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, is one of Moscow’s most iconic landmarks. Standing on Red Square beside the Kremlin, it is famous for its cluster of vibrant, multicolored onion domes that resemble flames or a colorful bonfire.
Built between 1555 and 1561 on the orders of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the cathedral commemorates Russia’s victory in the Russo-Kazan Wars, particularly the capture of Kazan in 1552.
It was designed by Russian architects Ivan Barma and Postnik Yakovlev as an ensemble of nine interconnected chapels arranged around a central tower. The bright, swirling patterns on the domes were added in the 17th century, transforming the originally more subdued exterior into the vivid spectacle seen today.
Inside, a labyrinth of narrow passages connects small chapels richly decorated with frescoes, icons, and ornate iconostases.
For centuries it served as a church, but in 1929 it became a museum. It is now...
The Russian Premier League traces its roots to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the Soviet Top League ended and each former republic launched its own national championship. Russia began its independent top-flight competition in 1992 as the Russian Football Championship, initially featuring a mix of teams and formats amid the country’s transition. In 2001, the league was restructured and formally established as the Russian Premier League (RPL) in 2002, becoming a professional top division with 16 teams that inherited records from the earlier era.
Over the years, it has featured strong Moscow clubs dominating early on, followed by Zenit’s rise, with the format stabilizing around promotion and relegation to the Russian First League. The competition has grown in infrastructure and international exposure, though it has faced challenges including geopolitical issues affecting European participation in recent seasons.
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, one of Russia’s most prominent clubs ...
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the world’s longest single continuous rail line, spanning about 9,289 kilometers from Moscow to Vladivostok across eight time zones, vast taiga forests, steppe, mountains, and 16 major rivers.
Construction began in 1891 under Tsar Alexander III, with Tsarevich Nicholas II laying the first stone in Vladivostok. The project aimed to unite the Russian Empire, boost trade with Asia, and develop Siberia’s resources.
Built in sections from both ends amid harsh terrain and permafrost, the full Russian route (avoiding earlier Manchurian shortcuts) was completed in 1916. It later supported Soviet industrialization, World War II logistics, and remains a key passenger and freight corridor operated by Russian Railways.
The premier service is the Rossiya train number 001/002, a comfortable firmeny train with renovated carriages featuring air conditioning, power outlets, USB ports, and showers in some cars. It offers first-class (two-berth), second-class kupe (four-berth), ...
