Wat Phutthaisawan or the Monastery of Buddhist Kingship is located on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River.
The temple was built in 1353 by King Ramathibodi I at the royal residence of "Wiang Lek", the site where he first settled before establishing Ayutthaya as the capital city in 1350.
The temple was constructed after his elder brother (the ruler of Suphan) defeated the Khmers and brought them back under the control of Ayutthaya in 1352.
The temple was likely built by the large number of enslaved Khmer inhabitants forcibly removed from Angkor to Ayutthaya at that time. The monastery was one of the first temples constructed and had a preaching hall and a great holy reliquary.
The old temple complex was enclosed by an outer wall measuring 192 meters in length and 92 meters in width. The vihara has its entry to the east and measures 48 meters in length and 16 meters in width. The main Khmer-style prang is surrounded by a square cloister.
The prang, representing the cosmic Mount Meru, is located in the...
The Holy Assumption Cathedral in Tashkent, formally the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God, is the principal Russian Orthodox cathedral of the local diocese.
It originated in 1871 as a modest church dedicated to the healer Saint Panteleimon, built beside a military hospital and cemetery during the period of Russian expansion into Central Asia. Growing numbers of worshippers led to construction of a larger brick church between 1877 and 1878, financed by local donations including major gifts from Governor-General Konstantin von Kaufman and merchant Dmitry Zakho; it was consecrated on 31 January 1879.
After the Revolution the parish was assigned to the Renovationist movement. Worship ceased in 1933 and the building served as a military sanitary depot until the end of the Second World War. Returned to the faithful in December 1945, it was reconsecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God and became the cathedral of the Tashkent Diocese.
Between 1958 and 1960 it was ...
The railway network of Uzbekistan traces its roots to the late nineteenth century when the Russian Empire built the Trans-Caspian line across the region. During the Soviet period the system expanded into a dense network of broad-gauge tracks that linked industrial centers and agricultural zones.
After independence the country began modernizing its rails, focusing first on passenger comfort and then on speed. High-speed services arrived in 2011 with the Spanish-built Afrosiyob trains and expanded further in 2026 with the Korean-built Jaloliddin Manguberdi, yet many travelers still choose the reliable standard trains that continue to form the backbone of everyday intercity travel.
The route from Samarkand to Tashkent covers roughly three hundred thirty to three hundred forty kilometers across open steppe, farmland, and the approaches to the capital. High-speed options such as the Afrosiyob or Jaloliddin Manguberdi complete the trip in about two hours and fifteen minutes, offering modern seating, ...
Port FC vs Beijing Guoan – A Night to Remember at BG Stadium
Port FC and Beijing Guoan brought contrasting histories and recent form into their AFC Champions League Elite clash at BG Stadium.
Port FC, founded in 1967 as Port Authority of Thailand FC, is one of Thailand’s oldest clubs. Nicknamed the Port Lions, the Khlong Toei side built a strong reputation through multiple Kor Royal Cup titles in earlier decades and later FA Cup successes, including 2019. While they have never claimed the modern Thai League crown, they remain a passionate top-flight club known for energetic support and competitive football.
Beijing Guoan, one of China’s most traditional and popular clubs, traces its roots to the early 1950s and became fully professional in 1992. A founding member of the Chinese Super League, they have never been relegated from the top flight. Their honours include the 2009 Chinese Super League title and several Chinese FA Cups. Guoan has long been a regular in Asian competition with a large, ...
