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 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...
The new Tai Hong Kong White Jade Shrine, also known as the White Jade Tai Hong Gong Shrine, stands as a magnificent addition to Bangkok’s cultural and spiritual landscape in the Sathon district.
Located on Charoen Rat Road adjacent to the Por Teck Tung Foundation’s 80th Birthday Commemorative Garden, this shrine officially opened to the public on May 25, 2026, following a royal opening ceremony presided over by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen on May 20.
Built to commemorate the King’s 72nd birthday, it serves as a living monument to compassion, cultural heritage, and charitable legacy managed by the Por Teck Tung Foundation, one of Thailand’s oldest Chinese charitable organizations with roots dating back to 1899.
The shrine honors Venerable Tai Hong, also called Luang Pu Tai Hong or Tai Hong Gong, a revered Chinese Buddhist monk from the Song Dynasty known for his extraordinary acts of mercy.
Originally named Leng Ngak from the Lim family, he dedicated his life to collecting...
