Wat Kharuehabodi is a peaceful third-class royal Buddhist temple nestled along the western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district.
Established around 1824 during the reign of King Rama III, the temple was founded when Phraya Ratchamontri Borirak (Phu) donated land that once included an old house linked to the famed poet Sunthorn Phu. The name “Kharuehabodi” evokes the idea of a “millionaire’s temple” or householder’s abode, reflecting its origins.
The temple’s star attraction is its principal Buddha image, Phra Saekkham (also known as Luang Por Saek Kham), a revered Maravijaya-style statue likely dating back to the 12th–13th century in the Chiang Saen artistic tradition. Legends trace its creation to the era of Queen Camadevi, the legendary first ruler of Haripuñjaya (Hariphunchai). Over centuries, the golden image passed through the kingdoms of Lanna, Lan Xang, and Vientiane before eventually reaching Siam. King Rama III later presented it to this temple...
Wat Phuttha Prommayan, also known in fuller form as Wat Phuttha Prom Yan Phitcharam, rises as a contemporary Theravada Buddhist sanctuary on the quiet island of Ko Lat in the Bang Pakong River within Chachoengsao Province.
This relatively young temple took shape in recent decades through the determined vision of its abbot, Phra Palad Ekalak Panyakhamo, who first came to the undeveloped river island guided by deep devotion to the teachings and lineage of Luang Pho Reusi Ling Dam, also known as Phra Ratchaprommayan of Wat Tha Sung. Making a solemn vow upon the land, he resolved that if merit allowed he would transform the isolated plot into a place of beauty and practice dedicated to the Buddha and to that revered teacher.
What followed has been a rapid flowering of faith and architecture, supported by generous lay devotees whose offerings, including substantial Kathin ceremonies, have helped raise striking structures amid the water.
Accessible only by a short boat crossing from the mainland pier, ...
Khlong Suan 100 Years Market ตลาดคลองสวน 100 ปี is a historic waterfront marketplace that offers a glimpse into Thailand’s canal-side trading past. Dating back to the reign of King Rama V (late 19th to early 20th century), it was originally a bustling hub for travelers and traders along the Khlong Prawet Burirom canal, which connected Chachoengsao to Bangkok via boat services like the one run by Nai Loet (later known as Lert Sresthaputra, namesake of Bangkok’s Nailert Park). The market declined with the rise of roads and cars but was revived in 1999 and rebranded to highlight its century-old heritage. Today, it’s a “living museum” popular with local Thais for its authentic vibe, though it remains off the radar for most foreign tourists.
Unlike touristy floating markets, this one is a traditional land-based affair along the canal banks, with wooden shophouses in Sino-Thai style perched precariously on stilts. It spans both sides of the canal, connected by the ...
Đồng Xuân Market, known in Vietnamese as Chợ Đồng Xuân, traces its origins to the early nineteenth century when, in 1804 under the Nguyễn Dynasty, a market was established on the southern bank of the Tô Lịch River to support riverine trade.
By the late 1800s the Old Quarter contained two principal open-air markets on Hàng Đường and Hàng Mã streets. In 1889 the French colonial administration closed those sites, filled in sections of the river and nearby lake, and consolidated commerce into a single covered marketplace in what became Đồng Xuân Ward.
Construction of the original structure began around 1889–1890; the French called it Les Halles Centrales or Grand Marché, though locals retained the name Đồng Xuân, meaning “Spring Field.” The building covered roughly 6,500 square meters and featured five interconnected halls with distinctive arched entrances and dome-like roofs of corrugated iron on a steel frame, each dome rising about 19 meters high. It quickly became ...
