Pha That Luang, the “Great Stupa,” stands as the most revered religious site and a national symbol in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Originally built in 1566 CE on the site of a 13th-century Khmer temple, it was constructed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. Over the centuries, the stupa has faced destruction and reconstruction multiple times due to wars and invasions, yet it remains a powerful symbol of the Lao people’s resilience and cultural identity.
Tag: Temple
The Black Stupa in Vientiane
That Dam, also known as the Black Stupa, is a 16th-century Buddhist stupa located on a tranquil roundabout in central Vientiane, near Talat Sao (the morning market) and the American Embassy. According to local legend, the stupa was once protected by a seven-headed water serpent, or Naga, and was covered in pure gold. However, during the Siamese-Laotian War in the late 1820s, the gold was looted and taken to Siam (modern-day Thailand), leaving behind the dark, weathered structure seen today.
The Golden Buddha of Wat Traimit
Situated in Bangkok’s Chinatown, the Wat Traimit temple belongs to the Worawihan class of second-class royal temples. Initially known as Wat Sam Chin, it derived its name from the tale of three Chinese individuals who collaborated in its construction. Inside, there are captivating elements such as the Phra Maha Mondop, which was erected in 2008 to house the Golden Buddha. As a result, the temple is officially recognized as Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan, and it is also commonly referred to as “The Temple of the Golden Buddha.”
Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda
It’s the most unusual Buddhist pagoda I’ve visited in Myanmar. With its name loosely translated as mid-stream on a laterite reef, the Kyauktan Yele Pagoda or Kyaik Hmaw Wun Pagoda is located in Myanmar’s major port city of Thanlyin along the banks of Yangon River.
Amazing Ayutthaya
The ancient city of Ayutthaya, or Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has been the capital of Thailand for 417 years until it was destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767 during the Burmese-Siamese War. The ruins of the old city is now known as the Ayutthaya Historical Park. Some parts of the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 which includes Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit.
Shwedagon Pagoda
Dominating the Yangon skyline, the Shwedagon Pagoda is a 325 ft tall gilded stupa located atop the Singuttara Hill west of the Royal Lake. Aside from the main pagoda, there are also hundreds of colorful temples, stupas and statues inside the large compound of the pagoda.
Into The Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a popular tourist attraction in Selangor, Malaysia reachable by train for 57 minutes. It is one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside India and the focal point of the Thaipusam festival in Malaysia. Batu Caves took its name from the Batu River (Sungai Batu) flowing past the hill and its is the tenth (Pattu in Tamil) limestone hill from Ampang.
Dragon And Tiger Pagodas Of Kaohsiung
The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas is a temple located at the Lotus Lake in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Consists of two 6-storey towers, one with a dragon entrance and the other with a tiger, it was said that it will bring good luck to visitors if they enter through the dragon’s mouth and exit out of the tiger’s mouth.
Throwback Trips: Ooyaji Temple
The Oyaji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect that was built in a hollowed cave at the foot of a rocky cliff. It was established in the year 810 by the Japanese Buddhist monk, Kobo-Daishi (also known as Kuukai).
Amoj In Wanderland 