Wat Sangka Tha วัดสังขทา
Wat Sangkha Tha is located on the city island in the southwestern part of Ayutthaya. The temple is licsted in the Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park. Wat Sangkha Thae and Wat Chedi Yai are nearby Wat Chao Phram and several other ruins are located just east of here.
Being part of the Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park the ruin has been restored by the Fine Arts Department. The site consists of two monastic structures, an ordination hall and a wihan, both with a chedi.
Two other monastic structures are also nearby. A wihan called Wat Sangkha Thae or the "Monastery of the True Monkhood" and likely a bell or drum tower.
The whole complex is surrounded by a moat. All buildings were probably originally part of one temple but early maps show them as two seperate temples.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown with most records being destroyed during the fall of the city to the Burmese in 1767. The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mention an ...
Wat Hua Lamphong is a third-class royal Buddhist temple located in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district along Rama IV Road, near the historic Hua Lamphong railway station.
Originally known as Wat Wua Lamphong and dating back roughly two centuries to the early Rattanakosin period, it serves as an active monastery and community spiritual center rather than a major tourist site.
The temple gained its current name during the reign of King Rama V and underwent a major renovation in 1996 to mark the Golden Jubilee of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, incorporating the royal Kanchanapisek seal featuring two elephants flanking a multi-tiered umbrella throughout its structures.
Its distinctive architecture includes elevated ordination and assembly halls reached by wide staircases, colorful murals depicting Buddhist stories and traditional Thai life, intricate mother-of-pearl and gilded lacquer decorations, and shrines dedicated to figures such as King Rama V and Ganesha.
Locally nicknamed the Coffin Temple, Wat Hua ...
The Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan stands as a striking cultural landmark known for its massive three-headed elephant statue. Located just southeast of Bangkok, it makes for an excellent short day trip.
Opened in 2003, the museum was created by Lek Viriyaphant, who also developed the nearby Ancient City and the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya. It houses his impressive private collection of antiques and religious artifacts.
The standout feature is the enormous three-headed elephant, known as Erawan or Airavata in Hindu-Buddhist mythology. Crafted from copper and bronze, this impressive sculpture weighs around 250 tons and rises high on its pedestal, making it one of the largest hand-crafted elephant statues in the world.
The entire structure symbolizes the three realms of the universe — the underworld, the human world, and heaven. Inside, visitors encounter beautifully ornate spaces filled with stained glass, murals, sculptures, and a rich array of artifacts. The lower levels in the pedestal ...
Wat Pathum Wanaram Rachaworawihan, commonly known as Wat Pathum Wanaram or simply Wat Pathum, stands as a tranquil Buddhist sanctuary nestled in the vibrant commercial heart of Bangkok. Located along Rama I Road in the Pathum Wan district, between the bustling shopping centers of Siam Paragon and CentralWorld and opposite the lively Siam Square, this royal temple offers a striking contrast to the surrounding modern urban landscape, earning it the affectionate nickname of a peaceful oasis amid the concrete jungle.
King Mongkut, or Rama IV, established the temple in 1857 as part of his development of the area around Sa Pathum Palace, his royal retreat. At the time, the site consisted mainly of rice fields along the Khlong Saen Saeb canal, and the king had lotus ponds excavated there, inspiring the name Pathum Wan, which translates to “lotus forest.” The temple was constructed in connection with this royal palace complex and carried associations with Queen Debsirindra, the king’s consort and mother of...
