Wat Kuti Thong วัดกุฎีทอง is an active temple located on the northern side of the old
Lopburi River. It is split into two parts by a road that runs through the center of the monastery.
The monks live in the buildings closest to the river and the ancient ruins are on the opposite side of the road.
Wat Kuti Thong is framed by many ancient walls and an arched entrance gateway. These can still be seen directly next to the road, but they are also visible completely around the monastery’s boundaries. Some of the walls are quite high in places.
The main sermon hall sits on top of a large mound, which may have been the remains of an older building. Two gold painted Buddha images sit in the taming mara poses on the main altar.
The sermon hall is a modern construction in the Ratanakosin style.
On the north side if the hall are two large chedis. They sit on top of a huge mound, so some parts of them may still be concealed underground. Both chedi are bell-shaped, which suggests that ...
Fo Guang Shan (FGS) is an international Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhist organization and monastic order based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, with its headquarters at Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Dashu District, Kaohsiung—the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.
The organization practices Humanistic Buddhism, rooted in the Linji school of Chan Buddhism, and aims to disseminate Buddhist teachings in daily life through education, service, and modern approaches like technology integration. It is considered one of the “Four Great Mountains” of Taiwanese Buddhism and has over 1,000 monks and nuns, more than 1 million followers worldwide, and branches in 173 countries as of 2017.
The temple in Bangkok, commonly known as Fo Guang Shan Thaihua Temple (also referred to as Wat Fo Guang Shan, Fo Guang San Temple, or the “Buddhist Light of Mount Tai Hua Temple”), is a Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist temple and a branch of the main Fo Guang Shan organization in Taiwan. ...
Pak Khlong Talat ปากคลองตลาด, literally meaning “market at the mouth of the canal,” is Bangkok’s oldest and largest flower market, located in the Phra Nakhon District near the Chao Phraya River and Memorial Bridge. Its origins trace back to the late 18th century during the reign of King Rama I (1782–1809), when the site operated as a floating market where vendors sold goods from boats along the canals.
By the reign of King Rama V (1868–1910), it had evolved into a major fish market. The strong odors from the fish trade eventually prompted changes, and in the mid-20th century (around the 1950s–1960s), the market transitioned to selling produce, fruits, vegetables, and increasingly flowers. This shift occurred as wholesale produce moved to larger peripheral markets like Talat Thai, allowing flowers to become the dominant focus. The current flower and produce market has operated in this form for over 60 years.
In 2016, as part of Bangkok’s urban cleanup efforts, ...
Wat Suan Phlu (วัดสวนพลู) is a serene Buddhist temple located in the Bang Rak district of Bangkok, Thailand, near Charoen Krung Road and close to Saphan Taksin BTS station and the Shangri-La Hotel.
The temple was established around 1797 AD (พ.ศ. 2340) during the early Rattanakosin period. It was originally named Wat Khlong Lom (วัดคลองล้อม), due to a large canal (Khlong Silom) that once surrounded it, wide enough for Chinese merchant boats to turn around. The name later changed to Wat Suan Phlu, meaning “betel garden temple,” reflecting the betel nut plantations grown by Chinese immigrants in the area during the early Bangkok era—betel chewing was popular for strengthening teeth and facial beauty.
It received its wisungkhamasima (consecrated boundary) in 1848 AD (พ.ศ. 2391). Note that some sources confuse it with older Ayutthaya-era temples sharing similar names, but this Wat Suan Phlu dates to the late 18th century.
This small, peaceful community...
