Khao Chi Chan, or as it is more commonly known, Buddha Mountain has become an iconic landmark in Pattaya and a popular tourist attraction. This giant golden Buddha carved into the face of a mountain cliff is set among a beautiful and tranquil park.
A short walk along paved paths will bring you right to the base of the mountain where you can see the full detail and really appreciate the gigantic scale of this impressive carving. There is a small lake at the foot of the mountain filled with lilies and lotus flowers.
There is no entrance fee at Khao Chi Chan, however, there are several donation boxes around where you can make a small offering to help with the upkeep of this lovely sight.
The mountain was originally mined for U.S. Army and Air Force projects at the local Utapao Airport during the Vietnam War. The mining continued on for several years after the Americans departed, eventually leaving the sheer face of the mountain we see today.
In 1995 the idea to carve a giant Buddha on the ...
Sing Buri Province, cradled by the life-giving Chao Phraya and Lopburi Rivers, emerged from ancient Mon-Khmer roots in the Dvaravati era and rose to prominence as a fortified riverside settlement under the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Its name—City of the Lion—stems from a founding legend: a celestial lion spirit descended to protect the land, uniting with a mortal woman to sire Singhapahu, the mythical ancestor whose courage defined the region’s identity.
Wat Phra Prang Muni, established in the late Ayutthaya period over three centuries ago, stands as one of Sing Buri’s most luminous historical treasures. Its defining feature is the elegant Khmer-style prang, a tall, corn-shaped stupa of precise square tiers, adorned with intricate stucco motifs of garudas, nagas, and floral vines—restored in recent decades with shimmering gold leaf that transforms it into a golden spire under the sun.
At the temple’s spiritual heart resides Luang Pho Yen, a graceful stucco image in the Māravijaya ...
Sing Buri Province, nestled along the fertile banks of the Chao Phraya River in central Thailand, traces its origins to the ancient Mon-Khmer settlements that flourished during the Dvaravati period, later flourishing under the Ayutthaya Kingdom as a strategic riverine outpost. The name “Sing Buri” itself derives from local folklore: a mythical lion (singha) spirit is said to have guarded the area, mating with a human woman and fathering a child named Singhapahu, whose lineage symbolically founded the city. This blend of myth and history infuses the region with a quiet pride, evident in its preserved temples, riverside way of life, and enduring agricultural rhythms.
Among these sacred sites stands Wat Prachoti Karam, a serene Ayutthaya-era temple in the Don Kratay area of Bang Krabue Subdistrict, revered for its deep spiritual resonance and architectural grace.
Believed to have been established over four centuries ago, the temple embodies the transitional artistry between Sukhothai and ...
Wat Phra Buddha Saeng Tham, also known as Wat Buddha Sang Dham, is located in Saraburi Thailand, approximately 100 km northeast of Bangkok. Wat Phra Phuttha Saeng Tham (วัดพระพุทธแสงธรรม), which translates to “Temple of the Buddha’s Radiant Dhamma.”
Established in 2012 under the guidance of Phra Khru Phawanakit Koson (Luang Por Somchai), a respected monk of the Dhammayut sect, the temple was constructed on over 300 rai (120 acres) of donated land with the aim of creating a modern center for Buddhist practice, meditation, and community education within the Theravada tradition. Funding came entirely from public donations, reflecting deep local devotion and the cultural practice of merit-making. Though relatively new, it has rapidly become notable for its architectural grandeur and serene spiritual environment.
The temple’s most striking feature is the Great Silver Dome, known as Phra Buddha Mahawihan, a 108-meter-diameter structure shaped like an inverted ...
