The Roman bridge of Salamanca (Puente romano de Salamanca), also known as Puente Mayor del Tormes, is a Roman bridge crossing the Tormes River on the banks of the city of Salamanca, in Castile and León, Spain.
The importance of the bridge as a symbol of the city can be seen in the first quartering of city's coat of arms (along with its stone bull-verraco). It has been known traditionally as puente mayor and as puente prinçipal (main bridge) which gives access to the southern part of the city.
The bridge is actually a construction of two bridges separated by a central fortification: the old bridge which extends along the portion near the city is of Roman origin, and the new bridge. Of the twenty-six arches, only the first fifteen date from Roman times.
The date of the construction of the bridge is not precisely known, but is among the mandates of the Emperors Augustus (27 B. C.-14 D. C.) and Vespasian (69-79).
There was a popular belief that the bridge was first built by Heracles and ...
Wat Phra Buddha Saeng Tham, also known as Wat Buddha Sang Dham, is located in Saraburi Thailand, approximately 100 km northeast of Bangkok. Wat Phra Phuttha Saeng Tham (วัดพระพุทธแสงธรรม), which translates to “Temple of the Buddha’s Radiant Dhamma.”
Established in 2012 under the guidance of Phra Khru Phawanakit Koson (Luang Por Somchai), a respected monk of the Dhammayut sect, the temple was constructed on over 300 rai (120 acres) of donated land with the aim of creating a modern center for Buddhist practice, meditation, and community education within the Theravada tradition. Funding came entirely from public donations, reflecting deep local devotion and the cultural practice of merit-making. Though relatively new, it has rapidly become notable for its architectural grandeur and serene spiritual environment.
The temple’s most striking feature is the Great Silver Dome, known as Phra Buddha Mahawihan, a 108-meter-diameter structure shaped like an inverted ...
Wat Bot Sam Krok (also called Wat Bot), located in Bang Krabue, Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani, is a serene riverside temple just 50 km north of Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River.
Founded in 1621 during the late Ayutthaya period by Mon refugees from Myanmar, it became a major center of Mon Buddhist culture in Thailand. The temple sits on a fortunate river bend and is closely tied to the province’s name “Pathum Thani” (Lotus City), which King Rama II bestowed after Mon villagers offered him lotus flowers in 1815.
The temple’s heart is the revered bronze Buddha image Luang Phor Lueang, the provincial palladium of Pathum Thani, housed in a beautifully aged chapel. Nearby stands Thailand’s tallest statue of Somdet Toh Promrangsi (28 m) and large images of Luang Pho Sothon and Somdet Toh. Royal gifts, including an iron dog statue from King Rama V, still remain on the grounds.
With shaded gardens, fish-feeding spots along the river, and a lively weekend market nearby, it offers a peaceful...
Prasat Hin Phanom Wan, an 11th-century Khmer temple in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, stands as a modest yet evocative relic of the Angkor-era empire.
Originally constructed during the reign of King Suryavarman I (1002–1050) as a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to Shiva, the site features three east-facing brick prangs built on a laterite foundation, encircled by a moat and gallery. A large linga once occupied the central tower, symbolizing divine presence.
By the 13th century, under the influence of King Jayavarman VII, the temple transitioned to Buddhist use, likely housing a monumental seated Buddha image—fragments of which were recovered during 1986 excavations. This religious shift reflects the broader evolution of Khmer spiritual practice from Shaivism to Mahayana and eventually Theravada Buddhism.
Abandoned after the Khmer Empire’s decline in the 14th century, the site was reclaimed by forest until its rediscovery in the late 19th century. Partial restoration by Thailand’s Fine...
