There are many kinds of shrines dotted around Bangkok. Probably the most famous is the Erawan Shrine near Central World Plaza. Most of these shrines are visited frquently by thousands of tourists from around the world. The other day, I ventured off the beaten track just a little to visit a more quirky shrine behind the Nai Lert Park...
Wat Mahabut sits alongside the Phra Khanong Canal. It is very popular with worshippers who mainly come here for one purpose, to visit the Mae Nak Shrine. This is probably Thailand’s most well known and popular ghost. Bast on actual events that took place in the 19th Century, it has been made into numerous TV shows and movies. The...
Wat Phasi is probably one of the least explored temples in Bangkok. Apart from it’s notable stupa that can be seen while driving down New Phetburi road, there are also a number of other hidden gems in this temple that makes it a worthwhile visit. The most notable being a shrine to Boonpeng Heep Lek who has the honour...
Rama IX Park (Suan Luang Rama IX, สวนหลวง ร. 9) is a large park built to commemorate King Bhumibol’s 60th birthday on 5 December 1987. It covers 200 acres of land, a large portion of which is the water reservoir named Traphang Kaeo (ตระพังแก้ว). The most distinctive building of the park is Ho Ratchamongkhon (หอรัชมงคล) which is a gallery...
Krom Luang Chumphon Palace (วังกรมหลวงชุมพรเขตอุดมศักดิ์), or Nang Lerng Palace, was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn for HRH Prince Abhakra Kiartiwonges (Prince Chumphon).
The building housing the King Prajadhipok Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์พระบาทสมเด็จพระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) was designed by the French-Swiss architect Charles Beguelin in 1906 in a neo-classical style. It was renovated by the King Prajadhipok Institute to serve as a museum exhibiting a rare collection of King Rama VII’s personal belongings, including photographs, documents and his biography. King Rama VII ruled in a turbulent time...
During the alms ceremony in the morning the monks usually carry big bowls for receiving the donations. These bowls are known as ‘bat’ and have been made by hand for centuries. As factories took over the production of these bowls, most of the communities that made a living of producing them have vanished. An exception is Ban Bat, or...
The importance of Phra Sumen Fort (ป้อมพระสุเมรุ) can be summed up in one sentence: among the fourteen forts built along the Chao Phraya River during Bangkok’s foundation, this is the only one left. Built in the late 18th century, these forts and the surrounding walls protected the just-founded city against the looming Burmese threat during the reign of King Rama...
The Memorial of Expeditionary Force (อนุสาวรีย์ทหารอาสาสงครามโลก ครั้งที่ 1) is located in the northern corner of Sanam Luang, and at the foot of Somdet Phra Pin Khlao bridge. It used to be Sanam Chai (Victory Field) of the Bowon Sathan Mongkhon Palace. King Rama VI graciously granted to build this memorial to contain the ashes of the volunteer soldiers during...
This is the Maen Si Waterworks (การประปาแม้นศรี). On July 13th 1909, King Rama V ordered for the Sanitary Department to use a water system to bring water to Bangkok by taking water from Khlong Chiang Rak in Pathum Thani to Khlong Samsen. A pumping station was built and the water went through a filter process so that it became...
