11 kilometers south of Mandalay, the unique U Bein Bridge is a beautiful 1.2 kilometer long structure built from teak planks and said to be the longest of its type in the world. In 1857, when the capital moved from nearby Amarapura to Mandalay, the local mayor (named U Bein) salvaged wood from pieces of the dismantled teak palace and reconstructed it into this magnificent bridge.
The bridge’s attraction is not just in the design but that it remains a central part of the community. Each and every day locals and saffron-robed monks use the bridge. You will see them walking their bicycles home along as well as fishermen going about their daily work in its shadow. Views of the bridge are said to be the most impressive at sunset and the best photo opportunities can be found by hiring a boat to get a close up view of the bridge from the water.
In addition to the bridge there is a vibrant market seeing local wares as well as food and souvenirs. You can also sample some of the local food like ...
Chantaboon Waterfront
Chanthaboon Waterfront Community is an ancient waterfront community located in the heart of Chanthaburi in eastern Thailand.
It is sometimes also written as Chantaboon Waterfront Community. The traditional community dates back to King Narai the Great's reign of Ayutthaya Kingdom (more than 300 years), regarded as the first community of Chanthaburi. The ancestors of this community people are three ethnic groups; Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese.
In the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s reign, it was regarded as the center of the province and was a trading and travel destination for the eastern region.
The community is situated along the Chanthaburi River, opposite the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a historic building and recognized as the most beautiful Catholic church in Thailand. A Chinese temple by name 'Chao Mae Kuan Im' is a prominent landmark inside the Chantaboon Waterfront Community. Also, notable is the Chanthaburi Gemstone market that is ancient and is nearby. The entire ...
Boran Sathan Muang Paniat โบราณสถานเมืองเพนียด and Wat Thong Thua
Wat Thong Thua is located 4 kilometers from town on Sukhumvit Highway and is the site of an ancient Bot built over a Khmer-style temple. It also has a large collection of ancient Khmer sculptures such as lintels, sandstone door columns carved in various designs, and inscription stones. Nearby is the Mueang Phaniat archaeological site, which includes the remains of a laterite base of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats marking the town limit to the south. The ancient town is believed to have been dated from the 12th-16th centuries B.E. (Buddhist Era).
The Mueang Phaniant ancient remains are part of the broader archaeological context surrounding Wat Thong Thua. The site includes the remains of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats that mark the town limit to the south.
The site is unique in that it represents an early - Chenla-period - port originally founded as far back as the 6th to ...
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception อาสนวิหารพระนางมารีอาปฏิสนธินิรมล is a Catholic church and is located in the city of Chanthaburi, in the province of the same name, in Thailand.
The cathedral, visible from most of the city, was formally inaugurated in 1909 as one of the largest Catholic churches in Thailand. It was built on a previous structure of more than 300 years. It was constructed in Gothic style during the 10 years of occupation by France on this territory although it remained unfinished at that time (1893–1904). There is a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of the Cathedral.
The center piece of the inside of the cathedral is the statue of the Virgin Mary. It is covered by semi precious gems donated by the local congregation – estimates of the number of gems range from 200,000 to 500,000.
It serves as the Roman or Latin rite seat of the Diocese of Chanthaburi (Dioecesis Chanthaburiensis, ...