Highlights

Across Thailand are over 750,000 temples. Yep, three-quarters-of-a-million shrines to visit. Obviously you're not going to see them all but a select few are definately worth checking out.

To say the least, Thai Buddhists are a devout lot. The building of a temple has always been the creation of something more than just a place to worship. The "Wat" is the spiritual home for everyone in the local community and the locals will take more pride from their temple than the family home!

Central Region

Wat Po - Bangkok
The most famous of all Buddhist temples is without a doubt Wat Po.

World famous as the teaching centre for traditional Thai massage and herbal medicines, this is the most visited Buddhist temple in the world.

The Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun) - Bangkok
On the banks of the Chao Phraya, this riverside landmark is fashioned after the Cambodian styled pagodas of Angkor Wat. The best view of the temple is from the east side of the river at sunset.

Bang Pa In - Ayutthaya
Originally built for King U-Thong, each proceeding dynasty added further buildings and pavilions to create a spectacular collection of Buddhist temples and shrines. Many were destroyed by the Burmese in 1767 but some have been restored to their original designs in recent years.

Northern Region

Wat Prathat Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep is a large golden pagoda in the centre of the temple containing a part of the holy relics of the Lord Buddha. It is a holy spot visited throughout the year by Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. This temple was built by King Gue-Na in 1383 A.D.

Wat Phra Keo - Chiang Rai
Situated behind Wat Phrasing, this temple is believed to have been the original residence of the Emerald Buddha which is now in Bangkok at the Royal Temple of the same name.

The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat - Sukhothai
This area, surrounded by a moat, has two main compounds. The royal compound with it's ancient ruins of "Noen Phrasat", an old royal residence and the sanctuary in the palace where the royals of the day would pay homage to the Lord Buddha.

Wat Chana Songkhram - Sukhothai
The main sanctuary here is a round Singhalese-style chedi. In front of the chedi exists the base of a vihara and behind stands an ubosot. Bases of twelve small chedis are also visible.

North Eastern Region (Issan)

The Phra That Kam Kaen - Khon Kaen
This is the principal sacred place of worship for the Khon Kaen people. The name of the province itself was derived from the word Kam Kaen.

Phra That Phanom - Nakhon Phanom
It has not been conclusively proved when this monument was built. According to archaeologists, it is about 1,500 years old.

Fifty-two metres high, each of its rectangular bases measures 12 metres and its decorative top is made of gold.

The Phra That Phanom Fair is celebrated on the full-moon evening of the 3rd Lunar month and thousands of people flock to Nakhon Phanom.

Wat Ban Lai - Nakhon Ratchasima
The King of Thailand has expressed publicly that this beautiful old Chinese style temple is one of his favourites in the whole country. When the Royal family are on a visit to Issan, they will always make a pilgimmage here to honour the Lord Buddha.

Southern Region

Wat Phra Mahathat - Nakhon Si Thammarat
In the heart of the city, this old moestary is believed to have been built around A.D. 757 during the Sivichaya period in compliance with the idea of Mahayana Buddhism. The temple boasts a important archaeological places Vihara Khien, Vihara Khot, Vihara Pho Langka and the Buddha Museum.

Wat Thang Nam Lat - Nakhon Si Thammarat
A monastic community located in a beautiful and peaceful natural park where Buddhists go for meditation practice. There are several teaching pavillions with many paintings and poems illustrating moral teachings known in Thai as "Entertainment Houses for the Soul".