Santiago de Compostela, simply Santiago, or Compostela, in the province of A Coruña. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain.
The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route since the 9th century. In 1985, the city's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The area of Santiago de Compostela was a Roman cemetery by the 4th century and was occupied by the Suebi in the early 5th century, when they settled in Galicia and Portugal during the initial collapse of the Roman Empire.
The 1,000-year-old pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is known in English as the Way of St. James and in Spanish as the Camino de Santiago. Over 200,000 pilgrims travel to the city each year from points all over Europe and other parts of the world.
The historic downtown are is ...
Wat Saphan Floating Market, also known as Talat Nam Wat Saphan or Wat Saphan (Ratchaphruek) Floating Market, is a vibrant, community-driven waterside marketplace nestled along the Bang Noi Canal in the Taling Chan District of Bangkok, near the border with Nonthaburi Province.
Established relatively recently through collaborative efforts between local gardeners residing along the canal and the historic Wat Saphan temple, the market aims to revive traditional canal-based commerce while highlighting the temple’s rich heritage.
It operates as a weekend haven, open Saturdays and Sundays from approximately 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, drawing locals and visitors alike for its authentic, laid-back atmosphere that evokes Thailand’s classic floating market traditions.
The market’s layout blends land-based stalls with boat-accessible vendors, creating an immersive experience amid lush waterways lined with tropical vegetation. Wooden boats gently navigate the narrow canals, offering opportunities to browse ...
Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a prominent Buddhist temple in Thailand, known for its modern approach to Theravada Buddhism, large-scale meditation practices, and distinctive organizational structure. Located in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, just north of Bangkok, it is one of the largest temples in Thailand and has garnered both significant following and controversy.
• Founding (1970): Wat Phra Dhammakaya was established on February 20, 1970, by Luang Por Dhammajayo (Phrathepyanmahamuni) and his teacher, Chandra Khonnokyoong (known as Khun Yay Maha Ratana Upasika Chandra), a devoted lay Buddhist practitioner. The temple was founded on a 78-acre plot of donated land with the aim of reviving traditional Buddhist meditation practices, particularly the Dhammakaya meditation technique, which emphasizes visualization and inner light to achieve spiritual purification.
• Growth (1980s–1990s): The temple grew rapidly, attracting a large following due to its structured meditation programs, modern ...
Ang Thong province is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It is about 100 km from Bangkok, so you can take a day trip here from the capital. This province has a lot of tourist attractions, historical and cultural places.
There are more than 200 beautiful temples in this province, Wat Chaiyo Worawihan, Wat Khun Inthapramun, Wat Pa Mok Worawihan, Wat Tonson, Wat Mahanam, Wat Thasutthawat, Wat Siroi, Wat Khian and, Wat Muang are among the best temples to visit.
The province is mostly rural with many of its inhabitants planting rice. It is possible to get up to 3 rice harvests a year with Jasmine rice being the main cash crop. This area misses most of the tourists so if you want to experience Thailand away from the crowds this is the place to come.
Wat Khian is a historic temple. It’s very small with one monk being in residence. The highlight is the Ayutthaya era murals that are painted on the inside of the ordination hall. In order to view them you need to have it opened during ...