Thailand

Places in this region

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew

Temple of a million beers

In 1984, a group of monks in Thailand began an epic game of 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Amazingly, their game continued until there were literally 100s of bottles on the wall, totaling over... »

Outsider Art, Curious Places of Worship, Outsider Architecture | Edited by Dylan, michelle and 4 others

Sala Keoku

Bizarre Hindu and Buddhist sculpture park

Luang Pu's ascent to fame follows a strange and murky path. Pu was born in 1932 in Laos, and became a mystic early in his life. According to his legend, he fell through a sinkhole onto his... »

Outsider Art, Unusual Monuments, Strange Statues | Edited by serflac, atimian and others

Sanctuary of Truth

A modern temple with an ancient philosophy

The days of grand cathedral building, and constructing ornately detailed temples are on the wane in today's world. New megachurches often lack the beauty of religious institutions of the past, and... »

Curious Places of Worship, Outsider Architecture | Edited by serflac, atimian and others

Rafflesia

Surat Thani's official flower - and the world's largest - smells of rotting meat

The largest flowers in the world, Rafflesia can grow up to 90cm in diameter. The largest species of Rafflesia, Rafflies arnoldii, does not grow in Thailand, but three other large species do - and... »

Natural Wonders, Extraordinary Flora | Edited by A Facebook user and Nicholas Jackson

Mummy of Luang Pho Dang

Self-mummified monk who wears sunglasses and has become a gecko hatchery

After he died at 79 years old while meditating, the Buddhist monk Luang Pho Dang was closed in a glass coffin and left with his mudra pose with his legs folded, lotus style. Over 20 years later... »

Memento Mori, Mummies | Edited by allison and Nicholas Jackson

Lotus Lake

Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers

A true surprise in Thailand's Northeast - often considered to be solely a rice-farming region - these wetlands remain predominantly hidden by tall elephant grasses that belie the expanses of water... »

Natural Wonders, Watery Wonders | Edited by charles, Dylan and others

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell

Wang Saen Suk, 90 minutes outside of Bangkok on the way to Pattaya, is a garden full of statues depicting what is supposed to be Buddhist hell. While the garden attracts plenty of families,... »

Memento Mori, Intriguing Environs, Cultures and Civilizations , Architectural Oddities | Edited by Nicholas Jackson

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

Buddhist university that allows English-language speakers the opportunity to study with monks in Thailand

One of only two public Buddhist universities in Thailand, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, is located in the stunning Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara in Bangkok.... »

Repositories of Knowledge | Edited by Nicholas Jackson and atimian

Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic)

One of Bangkok's oldest temples and home to Thailand's largest monastic order

The ancient temple of Wat Mahathat was founded in the 18th century, before even the founding of Bangkok (1782), but has been considerably altered over the years, most notably by the young Prince... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Architectural Oddities, Curious Places of Worship | Edited by Nicholas Jackson

Phra Nang Cave

A phallic shrine to a princess goddess in Krabi, Thailand

On the edge of Phra Nang Beach in the Krabi Province of Thailand, a cave has been dedicated to a princess goddess named Phra Nang. According to legend, Phra Nang was an Indian princess who was... »

Curious Places of Worship | Edited by Bswanson, Dylan and others