Koh Kret เกาะเกร็ด is a small island in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. It is around 3 km long and 3 km wide with an area of over 4.2 square kilometers. It has seven main villages, the largest and most populous being Ban Mon. The island is best known for Thai-Mon people who make pottery for a living. The island is only accessed by ferries.
Koh Kret was originally a meander located on the Chao Praya river. Due to Chao Praya river's curvy path, ships would take longer to reach Ayutthaya, Siam's capital at the time.
During the reign of King Thaisa, the king wanted to reduce shipping time and improve the kingdom's economy. He planned a canal which would bypass the meander and act as a shortcut for maritime transport. The canal was dug in 1722, requiring around 10,000 men and taking over a month to complete. After the canal was dug, shipping to Ayutthaya became faster and the canal was called "Klong Lat Kret" by locals. As time passed, the canal became ...
Lord Shiva’s Vihara, also known as Wihan Sadet Por Phra Shiva or the Vihara of Lord Shiva Maha Thep, stands as a serene and majestic Hindu temple in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok.
This spiritual sanctuary offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle, blending Hindu devotion with elements of Thai Buddhist and syncretic influences that are characteristic of religious sites in Thailand.
The temple features exquisite artistry, including intricate gold-plated sculptures, bronze and clay tableaus depicting mythical scenes such as the churning of the ocean, and dedicated shrines to various deities.
At its heart is a radiant golden seated statue of Lord Shiva, portrayed in a meditative pose with traditional attributes like the trident, drum, and serpent, symbolizing his profound cosmic role. This impressive figure measures 16 meters in height with a lap width of 9.99 meters, an auspicious dimension often chosen for its symbolic significance.
The complex also includes shrines for Ganesha, Kali, ...
Wat Boromracha Kanchanapisak Anusorn or Wat Leng Noel YI 2 was bullt in 1996 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of King Rama 9’s accession to the throne.
The architecture of the Viharas In the temple were Influenced by Mahayana or Chinese Buddhist phllosophy and Buddhist doctrine.
The Viharas consist of 3 Buddhas; the past, the present and the future. There is also a statue of Chinese goddess, Guan Yin Bodhisttava which is carved from a whole tree. She Is a major goddess of the Mahayana sect.
Wat Boromracha Kanchanapisek Anusorn Is usually crowded with people who come to
make merit, enhance thelr fortune and redeem their bad luck regarding thalr zodlac year. If it is your birth year under the Chinese calendar worshipers will come to perform the “washing away bad luck” ceremony.
The temple is full of details and in interesting part of Thailand. It’s relatively new in terms of Thai temples but worth a visit. I would recommend to anyone that has time to see this temple and to also ...
Wat Mahathat or the Monastery of the Great Relic is located on the city island in the central part of Ayutthaya.
The monastery stood on the west bank of the Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak, an important canal, which has been filled in sometime in the early 20th century. In ancient times the temple was probably completely surrounded by canals and moats.
The structure was registered as a national historic
site on 8 March 1935 and is part of the Ayutthaya World Heritage Historical Park.
The exact date of the establishment of Wat Maha That is difficult to assess.
The Luang Prasoet version of the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya put its construction in
1374 during the reign of King Borommaracha I, 23 years after the establishment of Ayutthaya. The chronicles mention that the central prang had a height of 46 meters.
Later versions of the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya state that Wat Mahathat was established by King Ramesuan after his attack of Chiang Mai in 1384, but this date is not match with his period of reign.
In general, ...
