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 Na Phra That, located in Mueang Sing Buri District of Sing Buri Province, Thailand, is an ancient temple ruin whose history reaches back to the Dvaravati period between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, with some archaeological traces possibly even earlier from the Funan or pre-Dvaravati era. The site is widely regarded as the heart of the old city of Sing Buri, sometimes referred to in historical records as Singhaburi or Singhapura, a once-important settlement along the Chao Phraya River basin.
Originally known to locals as Wat Hua Mueang, meaning “Temple at the Head of the City,” or Wat Sisa Mueang, it served as a major Mon-Dvaravati Buddhist center. The prominent brick prang that still stands today was probably constructed to house sacred relics, which explains the later name “Phra That” (relic stupa). The architecture shows strong Khmer influence from the Lopburi (Lavo) period of the 11th to 13th centuries, indicating the structure was rebuilt or significantly expanded when Khmer culture ...
Wat Prasat วัดปราสาท is a historic Buddhist temple complex in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, widely regarded as the oldest temple in the province. Located along the Chao Phraya River, in Nonthaburi Thailand, it serves as a serene spiritual and cultural landmark just north of Bangkok. The temple blends ancient architecture, religious significance, and natural beauty. It’s a Mahayana Buddhist temple and a designated national historic site, attracting visitors for its tranquility and historical murals.
Built during the Ayutthaya period (17th century), the temple’s construction is attributed to either the reign of King Prasat Thong (1629–1656) or King Narai the Great (1656–1688), making it over 400 years old. The name “Prasat” refers to the ornate, castle-like spires (prasat) that adorn its structures, a distinctive feature in Thai temple design. Over time, it has become a repository of Nonthaburi’s artistic heritage, with additions like murals painted by local craftsmen in...
Ku Ban Prasat, a modest 11th to 13th-century Khmer ruin Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, embodies the transitional Buddhist phase of the Angkor Empire’s northeastern frontier.
Constructed primarily of laterite with remnants of sandstone carvings, the site centers on a raised rectangular platform that once supported three brick towers aligned east-west—hallmarks of the Bayon-style architecture promoted by King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218).
The towers, now reduced to scattered foundations and fragmented walls without a surviving prang superstructure, were likely dedicated to Mahayana Buddhist worship, as evidenced by unearthed fragments of Buddha heads in Dvaravati-influenced local style.
Originally a Hindu outpost in the 11th century under Suryavarman I, the complex evolved amid the empire’s shift toward Buddhism, incorporating motifs of lotuses and guardian figures on eroded lintels.
Enclosed by a single moat and a partial gallery, it served as a rural waystation along pilgrimage ...
