Wat Phanom Yong วัดพนมยงค์
Wat Phanom Yong or the Monastery of Wet nurse Yong is an active monastery located off the city island in the northern area in Tha Wasukri sub-district. It is situated on the north bank of Khlong Mueang, the old Lopburi River.
The history of this monastery is rather vague (as most of the ancient monasteries in Ayutthaya). The monastery was likely built in the reign of King Narai (1656-1688).
The story goes that the area once was a garden owned by a wet nurse of King Narai. This wet nurse (Phra Nom) was named Phrayong. Upon her death a monastery was built and named in her honor. Its initial name was Wat Phranom Yong an aggregation of Phranom and Yong. Around 1923, someone spelled the name of the temple slightly
differently, deviating the original meaning of its original name - local people tended not to pronounce the letter "r" and the temple became known as Phanom Yong. The temple was deserted after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.
Wat Phanom Yong was ...
Wat Ton Son, Amphoe Muang. Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Ang Thong Technical College, this temple is one of the oldest in the province, built in the late Ayutthaya period.
The temple is well-known for it's Buddha image seated in a meditation posture, called "somdej" Phra Sri Muang Thong". Measuring 13.7 meters wide across the lap and 19.5 meters in height. It's magnificent size makes it the first largest Buddha image to be made of metal. The quality of this Buddha images design also earns it recognition as a beautiful piece of art.
Other highlights in the temple include the Somdej Phra Sri Muang Ngern Buddha Image and a life-size cast image of one of Thailand's most revered monks, Somdej Phra Buddhajan To.
Stories have it that the temple was built in the Ayutthaya era. Due to its lack of venerable objects like many other temples, it was almost deserted until a former leading abbot of Ang Thong started expanding the temple in 1945. By constructing the giant ...
History of Loy Krathong Festival
Loy Krathong Festival originated from an old Brahmin festival that paid respects to the water spirits. Thai people float krathongs to give thanks to the water goddess for the fortune of having water while others will ask for forgiveness for using too much or contaminating it.
Loy Krathong originated in the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom, over 800 years ago. The King, Ramkamhang, was a devout Buddhist and believed that at the end of the Thai year his people should pay tribute to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khong Ka, for all they had been given. So he chose a night with a full moon after the monsoons, meaning the rivers and canals would be at their fullest, to worship.
A popular legend says that one of the King's consorts, Nang Noppamas, was the one who created the first Krathong. Noppamas was the daughter of a Brahmin priest and adapted an existing Brahmin tradition to make the float from banana leaves. The king was impressed and he proclaimed that every year on this ...
The Wat Saket Fair (known as Ngan Wat Phu Khao Thong or งานวัดภูเขาทอง), held at Wat Saket Ratchawora Maha Wihan (the Temple of the Golden Mount), is Bangkok’s most iconic temple fair. This 100+ year-old tradition honors the sacred Buddha relic enshrined in the 58-meter golden chedi atop the man-made “Golden Mountain.”
Typically a riot of street food, games, and cultural shows, the 2025 edition (October 29 – November 7) has been somberly adjusted to pay tribute to the recent passing of Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit, the Princess Mother (announced October 24, 2025).
Entertainment and some vendor zones are canceled, shifting focus to spiritual reverence, merit-making, and quiet reflection—still a profound cultural anchor amid Loy Krathong’s glow (November 6).
The fair spans 10 days and 10 nights and is an important annual event in the heart of the city.
Wat Saket Fair 2025: Phu Khao Thong Temple Fair - Oldest Fair in Bangkok - Thailand 2025