The extravagant Candle Festival ushers in the beginning of the monsoon season in Thailand. As a lunar holiday, the Candle Festival this year is held from July 7th to 13th, 2025. The Candle Float parade will take place on July 10th and 11th, 2025.
Despite being celebrated in other parts of Thailand, few cities hold the festival quite like Ubon Ratchathani, which is located in the Issan region around 500 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Bangkok.
The Candle Festival has its origin etched in tradition and religion. It is held during Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa days—two watershed Buddhist events that mark Buddha’s first sermon and the start of Vassa (sometimes referred to as Buddhist Lent), respectively. The celebration involves colorful parades of majestic and lavish candle wax sculptures accompanied by Thai traditional music and dance.
Long before the invention of electricity, Thai Buddhists had been collecting and donating candles to their local temples to ensure that they stayed ...
Wat Suthat Thepwararam วัดสุทัศนเทพวราราม, commonly known as Wat Suthat, is one of Bangkok’s most significant and majestic temples, located in the Phra Nakhon district near the Democracy Monument. Renowned for its stunning architecture, the temple features a grand ordination hall (ubosot) with intricate murals depicting Buddhist cosmology and Jataka stories, showcasing exquisite Thai artistry.
It is also famous for housing the Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha, a massive bronze statue from the Sukhothai period (13th century), one of Thailand’s largest and most revered Buddha images. The temple’s spacious courtyard, adorned with Chinese stone statues and the iconic Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha), adds to its historical and cultural allure, making it a must-visit for tourists and devotees alike.
Construction of Wat Suthat began in 1807 under King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, to serve as a royal temple of the first grade and a center for Buddhist learning.
It...
Khlong Khuean Ganesh International Park, located in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand, along the Bang Pakong River, is a 40,000-square-meter spiritual and cultural site dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the Hindu deity of wisdom and success. Established in 2012, it blends Hindu, Buddhist, and Chinese elements, serving as a pilgrimage and tourism hub.
The park features serene gardens, shrines, a local history museum, and a riverside coffee shop, with free entry for Thai nationals (100 Baht for foreigners) and daily hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The park’s centerpiece is the world’s tallest standing Ganesha statue, a 39-meter (128-foot) bronze figure crafted from 854 pieces. Depicting Ganesha with four arms holding jackfruit, sugarcane, banana, and mango—symbolizing prosperity, joy, nourishment, and wisdom—it stands on a lotus base with a rat (his vehicle) and smaller Ganesha figures. Illuminated at night, it’s a striking symbol of protection over the river and community.
In Hindu mythology, ...
Wat Pho Bang Khla (วัดโพธิ์บางคล้า), often called the “Temple of the Flying Foxes,” is a historic Buddhist temple located in Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Situated along the serene Bang Pakong River, it’s about 23 km southeast of Chachoengsao city center and roughly 1.5–2 hours’ drive from Bangkok.
This temple blends spiritual tranquility with a unique natural spectacle, making it a hidden gem for visitors seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience away from Thailand’s more crowded tourist sites.
Built during the late 18th century (around 1767–1807), the temple dates back to the era of King Taksin the Great, who reportedly passed through the area with his army after the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767. It was constructed to commemorate this historical moment, serving as a reminder of Thailand’s resilience during that turbulent period.
The architecture fuses Ayutthaya and early Rattanakosin styles, featuring intricate brickwork, ...
