Mandalay မန္တလေ is the second largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. Located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631 km north of Yangon, the city has a population of 1.2 million people.
Mandalay was founded in 1857 by King Mindon, replacing Amarapura as the new royal capital of the Konbaung dynasty. It was Burma's final royal capital before the kingdom's annexation by the British Empire in 1885. Under British rule, Mandalay remained commercially and culturally important despite the rise of Yangon, the new capital of British Burma. The city suffered extensive destruction during the Japanese conquest of Burma in the Second World War. In 1948, Mandalay became part of the newly independent Union of Burma.
Today, Mandalay is the economic centre of Upper Myanmar and considered the center of Burmese culture.
There is a lot to see from markets to temples. It’s relatively unknown to most toursits and off the normal tourist trail. It’s a real hidden gem and the gateway to other places in Myanmar like Bagan or Mingun that are worth seeing.
Wat Suthiwararam is a temple that is over 250 years old. This temple was originally called "Wat Khae" which is located next to the Chao Phraya River in lower Bangkok.
Later in the early Rattanakosin period was also called "Lao Temple or Wat Lao" because this area was the location for the Lao community that immigrated to Bangkok. The temple received the Royal Wisungkhamsima in 1881 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn.
It is assumed that it was built in the Thonburi period. It is considered a family temple in Songkhla.
Today, the temple has looks much different than when it was abandoned. Wat Sutthiwararam has renovated the chapel to make it more beautiful.
Behind the chapel is a large Buddha image named "Phra Phutthasiri Sutthisawat", often referred to as "Luang Pho Phra Yai" which beside this Luang Pho Phra Yai also has the image of Thao Wessuwan the Great and Thao Kuvera the Great Phraya Yak that resides at the left and right side of Luang Pho Phra Yai.
The area around the chapel which has ...
Wat Khun Saen (วัดขุนแสน)
This deserted temple is located on U-Thong Road, west of the Hua Ror market. Its present day boundary extends right to the base of the road. One of its chedi stops right before the pavement begins and card have curve around it.
As a restored ruin, Wat Khun Saen has many of its structures remaining. Its highlight is that It has been expanded over the years, which creates the unique appearance of a small chedi being consumed by a larger one. The view from the chedi’s western side shows how these temples were sometimes expanded over preexisting structures. On site there is the basic foundation of a sermon hall, which includes pieces of Buddha images and some sema stones. Portions of a wall can be seen surrounding the monastery.
Traces of several small chedi can also be seen on the premises, including the one located right next to U-Thong Road. There are a number of large and interesting Bodhi trees that provide shade as well as an interesting site growni g into the ...
Port FC vs Ayutthaya FC 2025
The opening match of the 2025 Thai League season between Port FC and Ayutthaya United took place on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM local time at PAT Stadium.
The match was part of the first matchday of the Thai League 1 season. Port FC hosted Ayutthaya United, marking the start of their league campaign.
Port FC are looking at improving from their 5th place finish last year while Ayutthaya has been promoted this year from the lower division.
As always the crowd and environment at PAT stadium makes it for a great night out with a bit of football tossed in for an added bonus.
Port FC vs Ayutthaya United - Home Opener August 17, 2025 - Bangkok Thailand
