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 ...
Wat Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan, commonly known as Wat Hong Rattanaram or simply Wat Hong, is a serene second-class royal temple (Ratchaworawihan) of the Maha Nikaya sect located along Khlong Bangkok Yai canal in the Thonburi district of Bangkok, near Wat Arun and the former Thonburi Royal Palace.
Founded in the late Ayutthaya period by a wealthy Chinese merchant named Hong (or Chao Sua Hong), it was originally called Wat Chao Sua Hong or similar names in honor of its benefactor.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, King Taksin the Great restored and expanded the temple during the Thonburi period, elevating it to royal patronage and renaming it Wat Hong Awat Wihan, as it stood close to his palace.
In the Rattanakosin era, it received ongoing support from the Chakri kings: Rama I and Rama II continued restorations, Rama III added Chinese-influenced elements, and Rama IV officially bestowed the name Wat Hong Rattanaram. The full royal title was formalized under Rama VI.
The temple features ...
Tawarawadee Sri Night Market, officially known as Tawarawadee Sri Nakhon Pathom Walking Street or Thanon Khon Deun Tawarawadee Sri Nakhon Pathom, takes place along the riverside community in front of Wat Phra Ngam and beside Khlong Chedi Bucha in the area north of the Phra Pathom Chedi in Mueang Nakhon Pathom District.
This weekend walking street transforms a section of the road and canal-side path into a lively open-air market filled with rows of stalls selling street food, fresh items, clothing, accessories, second-hand goods, handicrafts, souvenirs, and small household items, while the setting features traditional wooden houses and canal views that add a nostalgic, community-oriented feel close to the historic heart of the province.
The market draws both locals and visitors seeking an evening outing with affordable goods and casual dining in a relaxed provincial atmosphere that stays genuine rather than heavily tourist-oriented.
The market originated as a smaller canal-side flea market or talat ...
Choeng Tha-Na Bot Temple, officially known as Phutthasathan Choeng Tha-Na Bot พุทธสถานเชิงท่า-หน้าโบสถ์, is a preserved archaeological and religious site in Tha Sai subdistrict (near Pak Kret), Nonthaburi Province. It combines the surviving structures of two ancient temples: Wat Choeng Tha and Wat Na Bot.
The site now lies within the grounds of the Royal Irrigation Department (กรมชลประทาน) along the Chao Phraya River, making it a quiet, lesser-visited historic spot with Ayutthaya-period roots.
The exact founding dates of both temples are not clearly documented, but architectural evidence and historical records indicate they date back to the late Ayutthaya period (mid-to-late 18th century or earlier) and continued into the early Rattanakosin era. Wat Choeng Tha (meaning roughly “Temple at the Pier” or “Landing Place”) and Wat Na Bot (“Temple in Front of the Ordination Hall”) originally functioned as active community ...
