Wat Bot Sam Krok (also called Wat Bot), located in Bang Krabue, Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani, is a serene riverside temple just 50 km north of Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River.

Founded in 1621 during the late Ayutthaya period by Mon refugees from Myanmar, it became a major center of Mon Buddhist culture in Thailand. The temple sits on a fortunate river bend and is closely tied to the province’s name “Pathum Thani” (Lotus City), which King Rama II bestowed after Mon villagers offered him lotus flowers in 1815.

The temple’s heart is the revered bronze Buddha image Luang Phor Lueang, the provincial palladium of Pathum Thani, housed in a beautifully aged chapel. Nearby stands Thailand’s tallest statue of Somdet Toh Promrangsi (28 m) and large images of Luang Pho Sothon and Somdet Toh. Royal gifts, including an iron dog statue from King Rama V, still remain on the grounds.

With shaded gardens, fish-feeding spots along the river, and a lively weekend market nearby, it offers a peaceful...

Prasat Hin Phanom Wan, an 11th-century Khmer temple in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, stands as a modest yet evocative relic of the Angkor-era empire.

Originally constructed during the reign of King Suryavarman I (1002–1050) as a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to Shiva, the site features three east-facing brick prangs built on a laterite foundation, encircled by a moat and gallery. A large linga once occupied the central tower, symbolizing divine presence.

By the 13th century, under the influence of King Jayavarman VII, the temple transitioned to Buddhist use, likely housing a monumental seated Buddha image—fragments of which were recovered during 1986 excavations. This religious shift reflects the broader evolution of Khmer spiritual practice from Shaivism to Mahayana and eventually Theravada Buddhism.

Abandoned after the Khmer Empire’s decline in the 14th century, the site was reclaimed by forest until its rediscovery in the late 19th century. Partial restoration by Thailand’s Fine...

Wat Na Phra That, located in Mueang Sing Buri District of Sing Buri Province, Thailand, is an ancient temple ruin whose history reaches back to the Dvaravati period between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, with some archaeological traces possibly even earlier from the Funan or pre-Dvaravati era. The site is widely regarded as the heart of the old city of Sing Buri, sometimes referred to in historical records as Singhaburi or Singhapura, a once-important settlement along the Chao Phraya River basin.

Originally known to locals as Wat Hua Mueang, meaning “Temple at the Head of the City,” or Wat Sisa Mueang, it served as a major Mon-Dvaravati Buddhist center. The prominent brick prang that still stands today was probably constructed to house sacred relics, which explains the later name “Phra That” (relic stupa). The architecture shows strong Khmer influence from the Lopburi (Lavo) period of the 11th to 13th centuries, indicating the structure was rebuilt or significantly expanded when Khmer culture ...