Phanom Rung พนมรุ้ง or also known as Prasat Hin Phanom Rung ปราสาทหินพนมรุ้ง which means Phanom Rung Stone Castle. It is a Hindu Khmer Empire Temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano at 402 metres (1,319 ft) elevation.
It is located in Buriram Province in the Issan region of Thailand, and was built at a time when Khmer social-political influences were significant in Srisaket.
It was built of sandstone and laterite between the 10th and 13th centuries. It was a Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, and symbolizes Mount Kailash, his heavenly dwelling.
The Phanom Rung sanctuary compound was constructed over several phases. These comprise two foundations of sacred brick buildings of 10th century, the minor sanctuary of 11th century, the central sanctuary built by king Suryavarman II’s relative Narentratitaya in 12th century and two Bannalais (libraries) of the 13th century. Further sacred buildings were built in the reign of King Jayavarman ...
Wat Chana Songkhram
Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawiharn วัดชนะสงครามราชวรมหาวิหาร usually shortened to Wat Chana Songkhram วัดชนะสงคราม is a second-class royal monastery in Chana Songkram Sub-district, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok Thailand.
It has a rich history dating back to the Ayutthaya period.
Originally named "Wat Klang Na," it was renamed to "Wat Chana Songkhram" to honor the Siamese soldiers who fought in the Burmese-Siamese War in 1767.
The temple's architecture is a blend of traditional Thai and Chinese styles, featuring a three-tiered roof and intricate gold and red decorations. The main hall, or ubosot, is where monks perform religious ceremonies and visitors pay their respects to Buddha, with walls adorned with murals depicting the life of Buddha. The temple's most impressive feature is its tall and ornate chedi, or stupa.
Wat Chana Songkhram is an important royal temple and is an old second-class royal...
Every June the local community near Wat Kanlayanamit gets together and organizes a 3 day event to make merit. They celebrate a famous monk from the nearby temple with food, dancing and more over the 3 days.
The use of the lions is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
The event starts with bringing the statues of the Buddha and the monk out into the street and everyone gathers for free food and drinks that are provided by the locals in the community.
The last day features the amazing lion dancing on what is called the plum poles. These are tall poles at various heights that a team of dances perform on to the beating of drums and gongs. It is an amazing display of skill and choreography.
The event is known to the locals but not promoted and was a real treat to see.
Thai Chinese Lion Dance - Annual Merit Making Ceremony 13-15 June - Thonburi Thailand 2025
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit วัดมหาธาตุยุวราชรังสฤษฎิ์ is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand.
It is one of only 23 first-class royal temples of the ratchaworamahawihan grade in Thailand.
The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period and was initially known as Wat Salak. It was later renamed to Wat Mahathat, a name often given to temples containing relics of the Buddha. The temple is also home to a Vipassana Meditation center.
The temple is situated in the old Rattanakosin district of Bangkok, just North of the Grand Palace. It is a significant temple for Buddhist studies, as it houses a well-known meditation center and the first Buddhist University in the country, the Maha Chulalongkorn Raja Vidyalaya University, where hundreds of monks study the teachings of the Buddha.
The temple is open from 08 to 17 daily. Visitors can explore the temple's impressive collection of Buddha images, including a gallery of seated and standing Buddha images....
