Wat Chaiyo or Wat Ket Chaiyo was built during the Ayutthaya Period. It became important during the reign of King Rama IV. The venerable Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) of Wat Rakhang Khositaram built the large Buddha image in a subduing Mara gesture and placed it outdoors. However, the image collapsed soon after construction. He re-built it in the same pose but smaller, covered it in plaster and without gold leaf. As the image could be seen from far, the villagers called it Luangpho To (meaning huge image). Further temple restoration during the reign of King Rama V the Buddha image collapsed again. The King ordered the renovation of the image with steel bars inside. The new image was covered in gold leaf and monks’ robes and was given the new name by King Rama V the Great “Phra Maha Phutthaphim”. A new main chapel was constructed to house the image. Upon completion, King Rama V the Great established the temple as one of the royal temples.
To pay respect to Luangpho ...
Wat Nangnong is an ancient monastery. The styles of objects at the temple date back to the Ayutthaya era. A large scale restoration project during the reign of king Rama III (1824-1851). After this restoration the temple was granted the designation of being a royal temple. The king himself came to this temple by boat in 1841 to perform a ritual over the boundary stones in and around the ordination hall (Ubosot).
The principal Buddha image in the ordination hall is seated in the subduing Mara (Satan) posture, representing the Sukhothai art style. Inside the ordination hall that are many different art techniques, like the gilded lacquer paintings of figures from Chinese literature known as romance of the three kingdoms.
The temple collection includes a number of objects created in the styles of European and Chinese art. These heritage resources are considered valuable property of the Thai people.
This temple is away from the tourist areas and you will only find the locals here. The temple ...
Wat Phu Man Fa is a massive temple being built in Buriram Thailand. This temple has caused some controversy due to its resemblance to Angkor Wat.
Construction started several years ago on a piece of land covering 200 Rai (roughly 100 acres). It features several stone buildings built in the Khmer style. Its resemblance to Angkor Wat has caused a great deal of controversy and the #SaveAngkorWat hastag.
The head Abbot that is the vision behind the project said the styling came to him in a dream. He believes that he was a soldier that was part of the construction of the original Angkor Wat and now is continuing now after entering the monk hood.
The controversy drew the attention of Cambodian officials that were invited to inspect the site. It’s been agreed that it has design elements of many different sites like Phimai and others and is not a direct copy of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The temple construction continues and is really amazing to see. It’s being built on a scale that is ...
Wat Kharuehabodi is a peaceful third-class royal Buddhist temple nestled along the western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district.
Established around 1824 during the reign of King Rama III, the temple was founded when Phraya Ratchamontri Borirak (Phu) donated land that once included an old house linked to the famed poet Sunthorn Phu. The name “Kharuehabodi” evokes the idea of a “millionaire’s temple” or householder’s abode, reflecting its origins.
The temple’s star attraction is its principal Buddha image, Phra Saekkham (also known as Luang Por Saek Kham), a revered Maravijaya-style statue likely dating back to the 12th–13th century in the Chiang Saen artistic tradition. Legends trace its creation to the era of Queen Camadevi, the legendary first ruler of Haripuñjaya (Hariphunchai). Over centuries, the golden image passed through the kingdoms of Lanna, Lan Xang, and Vientiane before eventually reaching Siam. King Rama III later presented it to this temple...
