Ku Ban Prasat, a modest 11th to 13th-century Khmer ruin Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, embodies the transitional Buddhist phase of the Angkor Empire’s northeastern frontier.
Constructed primarily of laterite with remnants of sandstone carvings, the site centers on a raised rectangular platform that once supported three brick towers aligned east-west—hallmarks of the Bayon-style architecture promoted by King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218).
The towers, now reduced to scattered foundations and fragmented walls without a surviving prang superstructure, were likely dedicated to Mahayana Buddhist worship, as evidenced by unearthed fragments of Buddha heads in Dvaravati-influenced local style.
Originally a Hindu outpost in the 11th century under Suryavarman I, the complex evolved amid the empire’s shift toward Buddhism, incorporating motifs of lotuses and guardian figures on eroded lintels.
Enclosed by a single moat and a partial gallery, it served as a rural waystation along pilgrimage ...
Thai long boat racing traces its origins to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350–1767), where it began as military training for war canoes that could carry 40–60 soldiers along rivers like the Chao Phraya. Historical records indicate the first organized race occurred during a royal ceremony under King Ekathatsarot (r. 1605–1620), evolving from spontaneous challenges between temple boats during merit-making processions.
By the Rattanakosin era (1782–present), kings like Rama V formalized it as a national spectacle, commissioning carved teak boats and silver trophies, with races tied to the end of Buddhist Lent (Awk Phansa) in September–November when rivers swell post-monsoon.
These events blend sport, spirituality (with boat-blessing rituals invoking river spirits), and community rivalry, featuring 30–55 paddlers per boat chanting rhythmic songs.
Over four centuries, they’ve symbolized Thai riverside life, though modern variants include motorized long-tail races; traditional paddle events ...
River Kwai Bridge Week Festival & Night Market (November 27 – December 7, 2025)
The River Kwai Bridge Week & Kanchanaburi Red Cross Fair (also known as the Death Railway Bridge Festival) is a poignant annual event in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, commemorating the WWII-era construction of the infamous Thai-Burma “Death Railway” and the River Kwai Bridge.
Built by over 60,000 Allied POWs and 250,000 Asian laborers under brutal Japanese occupation, the project claimed over 100,000 lives—earning its grim nickname. This 11-day festival blends solemn remembrance with vibrant cultural celebration, drawing tens of thousands of visitors. In 2025, it’s themed “The Light of Remembrance and Eternal Loyalty”, honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.
The festival’s night market, integrated into the Kanchanaburi Red Cross Fair, sprawls across the riverside near the River Kwai Bridge and the Provincial Administrative Organization grounds, creating a 1–2 km pedestrian-friendly zone ...
Wat Tong Pu is situated in the Lopburi province. The term Tong Pu means the place for soldiers to muster before battle. Wat Tong Pu is considered an ancient Maha Nikaya Mon temple in Lopburi.
It's unknown when it was built but it was restored in the reign of King Narai during the Ayuttaya period. Some characteristics of the Mon and the Laos people has apparently influenced the artistry such as the Cabinets for the Tripitaka in the temple hall and the gilded black lacquer door panels of the wihan.
This ancient temple is very significant as a religious site from the Ayutthaya period. The temple is still in good excellent and there are monks still in residence.
The base of the wihan is a lotus flower shaped pedestal for the Buddhist image where the statue of the Buddha is meditating in Khmer-Lopburi style. The stone boundary markers, the sermon hall has a curved base, lancet windows and curve roofing tiles. These are all architectural styles used during the reign of King Narai.
The stupa is ...
