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 ...
Wat Pathum Wanaram Rachaworawihan, commonly known as Wat Pathum Wanaram or simply Wat Pathum, stands as a tranquil Buddhist sanctuary nestled in the vibrant commercial heart of Bangkok. Located along Rama I Road in the Pathum Wan district, between the bustling shopping centers of Siam Paragon and CentralWorld and opposite the lively Siam Square, this royal temple offers a striking contrast to the surrounding modern urban landscape, earning it the affectionate nickname of a peaceful oasis amid the concrete jungle.
King Mongkut, or Rama IV, established the temple in 1857 as part of his development of the area around Sa Pathum Palace, his royal retreat. At the time, the site consisted mainly of rice fields along the Khlong Saen Saeb canal, and the king had lotus ponds excavated there, inspiring the name Pathum Wan, which translates to “lotus forest.” The temple was constructed in connection with this royal palace complex and carried associations with Queen Debsirindra, the king’s consort and mother of...
Prasat Yai Ngao, also known as Yai Ngao Castle or Lonely Grandma’s Castle, is a small but captivating ancient Khmer sanctuary located in Ban Phon Chai, Ban Chop Subdistrict, Sangkha District of Surin Province in northeastern Thailand.
Situated about four kilometers from the Sangkha district office along Highway 24, with a short dirt track leading to the site, it stands as a testament to the far-reaching influence of the Khmer Empire in the region. The temple was constructed in the first half of the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II, the same monarch responsible for the grand Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It exemplifies the classic Angkor Wat architectural style, characterized by its elegant prang towers and intricate detailing.
The complex consists of two main square brick towers with recessed corners, each measuring about five meters on each side. Evidence suggests a third tower was originally planned but never completed, giving the site its intimate scale compared to larger Khmer ...
Prasat Sikhoraphum is a well-preserved Khmer temple complex located in the district of the same name in Surin Province, northeastern Thailand, approximately 30 to 35 kilometers east of Surin town. Built primarily during the 11th or 12th century as a Hindu sanctuary, it reflects the architectural and religious influence of the Khmer Empire that once extended into this region.
Historians often associate its construction with the reign of a Khmer king such as Suryavarman I, Udayadityavarman II, or Suryavarman II, though the precise ruler remains uncertain, with stylistic evidence pointing toward an earlier period in some analyses.
The temple was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, evident in its carvings and overall design. It features a distinctive quincunx layout of five brick prangs, or towers, arranged on a single square laterite platform, with the central prang rising about 32 meters high and the four smaller ones surrounding it. This arrangement is relatively uncommon in Thailand but ...
