The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady อาสนวิหารแม่พระบังเกิด บางนกแขวก, also known as Bang Nok Khwaek Cathedral, stands as a serene and striking landmark along the banks of the Mae Klong River in Bang Nok Khwaek subdistrict of Bang Khonthi district, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand.
Constructed between 1890 and 1896 under the direction of French missionary Father Paolo Salmone, this historic Roman Catholic church rises as one of the oldest and most distinctive places of worship in the country, serving as the cathedral for the Diocese of Ratchaburi.
Its architecture embodies classic French Gothic Revival style, featuring a tall, slender spire that reaches approximately 50 meters into the sky and crowns a cross-shaped structure, drawing the eye upward in a graceful expression of verticality.
The exterior presents a blend of white and gray tones, achieved through fired brick walls coated in a unique plaster mixed with crushed sugarcane ...
Wat Suwandararam วัดสุวรรณดาราราม
The 'Temple of the Golden Star', is one of the surviving ancient temples in the UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya. Famed for its exquisite mural paintings, magnificent architecture and grandeur, the temple has served as an important symbol of legitimacy for the rulers of the Chakri dynasty. It continues to be revered by generations of Thai nationals, civilians and royals alike.
All those wishing to learn about the exploits and heroic deeds of the Thai royals through the gorgeous murals won’t be disappointed while visiting Wat Suwan Dararam. The recent renovations of the temple have added a mystical touch to the structure. With its elaborate murals and grand architecture, the Wat Suwadararam is a visual delight to history and art buffs alike. The complex boasts of a complicated and textured history, that has survived generations of neglect and attempts at subordination. If you wish to discover Thailand in a new...
Wat Phraya Tikaram วัดพระญาติการาม
Wat Phraya Tikaram is located off the city island in the eastern part of the city.
Wat Phraya Tikaram is an active monastery. It has all the required structures for providing services to the local community. Most of the buildings in site appear to be designed in the Bangkok Period. The ordination hall was built in an east/west axis. Its triple layered roof frames an intricately carved gable. This has been partially decorated with mirrored tiles. The outer walls of the ubosot have been painted yellow, and sema stones (old and new) mark the boundaries.
The ordination hall also has a number of votive tablets on display. Many Buddha images and Hindi deities had been placed in increments around this building. The images are in a variety of poses, but standing and walking Buddha images are a reoccurring theme at Wat Phraya Tikaram (which is uncommon in Ayutthaya). The bell tower is situated in front of the ordination hall. It has windows in ...
Wat Sak Yai and Wat Sak Noi are two historic temples situated close to each other in the Bang Kruai District of Nonthaburi Province, just northwest of Bangkok.
Historical records indicate that its founding occurred in 1774 during the Thonburi period when King Taksin the Great donated personal funds to construct or restore the site after earlier abandonment. Some propose an even older origin in the Ayutthaya period under King Narai, inferred from the style of certain Buddha images and plaster carvings.
During the final Burmese invasion of Ayutthaya in the 1760s, Burmese armies camped along the Chao Phraya River, prompting monks and villagers to flee or face conscription.
Following his victory over the Burmese in Chiang Mai in 1774, the king is said to have brought a precious Sukhothai-style Buddha image known as Luang Pho Sukhothai and ordered its installation here while overseeing the temple’s revival.
This revered statue, believed to date from the late Sukhothai period around the 14th to 15th ...
