Joanna James
Thailand is a land of a thousand temples; some extremely famous iconic attractions. But delve deeper into the culture and you will stumble upon lesser known marvels that are well worth the visit.
If you are planning on visiting the stunning beach town of Hua Hin do add this marvellous temple to your things to do in Hua Hin, Thailand. The Phraya Nakhon Cave is located within the Khao Sam Roi National Park which is home to the stunning cave within which is the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion which was built in celebration of King Chulalongkorn's first visit to the park in 1980. The place reminds you of an enchanted world of magic and mystery; well worth a visit if you are put up at Anantara Hua Hin Resort, for instance.
This is the country's tallest chedi which stands at an impressive height of 122 metres. It was at one time thought to be the tallest in the world until it was proven that Sri Lanka's Jethavanaramaya is taller by 2 metres. Phra Pathommachedi is located in Nakhon Pathom and is a saffron coloured marvel punctuating the skyline.
The gorgeous historical site of Kamphaeng Phet is located on the banks of the picturesque Ping River. The place was once part of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Sukhothai was once part of the Ancient Siam way back in the 13th century. If you are visiting the place remember that it takes several days to cover all the sites. Must visit locations include Wat Phra Si Iriyabot as well as the Wat Phra Kaeo which was once a royal palace that is located in the middle of the town. Definitely, a treat to explore, this may not be a part of the most visited places in the world but is sure to awe and inspire like many other places.
If you want to see the 'Great Buddha of Thailand' pay a visit to the Wat Muang Monastery. The place is located in the province of Ang Thong and proudly displays what is known as the tallest free-standing Buddha statue in the world; its height is 92 metres. The monastery has a fascinating collection of temples for various types of offerings while peculiar depictions of Thai folklore are sure to beguile you. Ang Thong, by the way, is just 2 hours from Bangkok.
Located in the northern city of Chiang Rai this marvellous piece of architecture may not have an ancient past, but it certainly is a testimony to the marvels of design. Better known as the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun is a fine amalgamation of modern skills and traditional Thai architecture. Construction of the temple commenced in 1997 and is still ongoing since the 2014 Mae Lao earthquake that caused much damage to the structure. Still, Wat Rong Khun with its walls embedded with dozens of twinkling mirrors draws hundreds of visitors annually.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
