Beitou (北投) is a district of Taipei City at the foot of Yangmingshan (陽明山 or Yangming Mountain), a collection of mountain peaks that make up Yangminshan National Park. These include Seven Star Mountain (七星山 or Qixingshan), a dormant volcano that last erupted around 700,000 years ago.
Xinbeitou (新北投), the hot spring village around Xinbeitou MRT station, occupies a lush valley that is home to 1200 species of plants, 110 species of bird, and 160 varieties of butterflies.
Beitou Thermal Valley (also called Beitou Geothermal Valley or Hell Valley) is a second, highly acidic “green sulfur” hot spring that is a major tourist attraction in Beitou and the source of the hot creek running through Beitou Hot Spring Park.
The spring water is high in radium, which in the past underwent a corrosive reaction with the andesite rocks on the river bed about 150 meters downstream, creating layers of cream and white diamond-shaped crystals named Hokutolite or “Beitou stone”, ...
Wat Prang Luang is a historic Thai Buddhist temple located in the Bang Yai District of Nonthaburi Province, just on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Dating back to the 14th century, it stands as the oldest monastery and archaeological site in the entire Nonthaburi area and greater Bangkok region, with roots stretching over 650 years.
Originally known as Wat Luang or the Royal Temple, it is believed to have been constructed during the early Ayutthaya Kingdom under King Ramathibodi I, also known as King U-Thong.
According to local legend, the king once rested here while leading people away from a cholera outbreak before founding the city of Ayutthaya.
The temple’s most striking feature is its ancient prang, a Khmer-style tower made of brick and adorned with stucco decorations. This leaning structure, roughly 20 meters tall and originating from the early Ayutthaya period, gives the temple its current name and serves as a powerful reminder of its deep historical significance.
Inside the ordination ...
Wat Rat Prakong Tham, also known as Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Sao Thong Hin sub-district, Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi province, Thailand. The temple traces its origins back to around 1713 during the late Ayutthaya period, although some accounts suggest it could be even older, possibly dating to the late Sukhothai era.
It was originally called Wat Khang Khao, or the Bat Temple, because of its dilapidated condition where bats often roosted. In 1950, local residents led by figures such as Dr. Daeng Phumlek renovated the site and gave it its current name, meaning “Temple Supported by the People for the Dharma.” It later received royal land grant status and was consecrated with visungkhamasima boundaries in 1962.
Today, it operates as a royal wat of the Maha Nikaya sect under the current abbot, Phra Kitti Wichirathada.
The temple’s most prominent feature is its massive reclining Buddha image, known as Luang Por Phra Non, which stretches approximately 32 ...
Wat Ratchaorasaram Ratchaworawihan is a first class royal monastery, or Ratchaworawihan, and a royal temple of Chakri dynasty's King Rama III. This temple is in the Chom Thong District, Bangkok. It is connected to not only the west side (Thonburi side) of Khlong Sanam Chai, but also Khlong Bang Wa on the north side of the temple.
It is an ancient temple constructed before the establishment of Rattanakosin Kingdom. It is said that this temple was a common monastery built during Ayutthaya period. In the past, it was called "Wat Chom Thong," "Wat Chao Thong," or "Wat Gong Thong." However, the founder of this temple is still unknown.
Prince Chetsadabodin (later crowned King Rama III) had the whole Wat Chom Thong renovated after he had led the Thai army to intercept the Burmese army at the Three Pagodas Pass in Kanchanaburi Province in 1820. When the naval army reached Wat Chom Thong on the Thonburi side, the prince decided to pause and perform a religious ceremony called Khon Thawan, according to ...
