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”, ...
The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady อาสนวิหารแม่พระบังเกิด บางนกแขวก, also known as Bang Nok Khwaek Cathedral, stands as a serene and striking landmark along the banks of the Mae Klong River in Bang Nok Khwaek subdistrict of Bang Khonthi district, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand.
Constructed between 1890 and 1896 under the direction of French missionary Father Paolo Salmone, this historic Roman Catholic church rises as one of the oldest and most distinctive places of worship in the country, serving as the cathedral for the Diocese of Ratchaburi.
Its architecture embodies classic French Gothic Revival style, featuring a tall, slender spire that reaches approximately 50 meters into the sky and crowns a cross-shaped structure, drawing the eye upward in a graceful expression of verticality.
The exterior presents a blend of white and gray tones, achieved through fired brick walls coated in a unique plaster mixed with crushed sugarcane ...
Wat Suwandararam วัดสุวรรณดาราราม
The 'Temple of the Golden Star', is one of the surviving ancient temples in the UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya. Famed for its exquisite mural paintings, magnificent architecture and grandeur, the temple has served as an important symbol of legitimacy for the rulers of the Chakri dynasty. It continues to be revered by generations of Thai nationals, civilians and royals alike.
All those wishing to learn about the exploits and heroic deeds of the Thai royals through the gorgeous murals won’t be disappointed while visiting Wat Suwan Dararam. The recent renovations of the temple have added a mystical touch to the structure. With its elaborate murals and grand architecture, the Wat Suwadararam is a visual delight to history and art buffs alike. The complex boasts of a complicated and textured history, that has survived generations of neglect and attempts at subordination. If you wish to discover Thailand in a new...
Wat Phraya Tikaram วัดพระญาติการาม
Wat Phraya Tikaram is located off the city island in the eastern part of the city.
Wat Phraya Tikaram is an active monastery. It has all the required structures for providing services to the local community. Most of the buildings in site appear to be designed in the Bangkok Period. The ordination hall was built in an east/west axis. Its triple layered roof frames an intricately carved gable. This has been partially decorated with mirrored tiles. The outer walls of the ubosot have been painted yellow, and sema stones (old and new) mark the boundaries.
The ordination hall also has a number of votive tablets on display. Many Buddha images and Hindi deities had been placed in increments around this building. The images are in a variety of poses, but standing and walking Buddha images are a reoccurring theme at Wat Phraya Tikaram (which is uncommon in Ayutthaya). The bell tower is situated in front of the ordination hall. It has windows in ...
