The Buddha statues are in some of the most interesting and striking areas of Thailand. What’s more, they are all relatively cheap to see. All you really need are enough space on your camera’s memory card and a strong pair of legs for all the walking around.

Throughout the world there are countless revered Buddha statues, and Thailand has its fair share. Here we run down the top five spots for seeing Buddha statues in the Land of Smiles.

1. Bangkok

The City of Angels is full of temples and tourists whizzing around in the backs of tuk tuks. There’s plenty to see and almost everyone sees it, but that doesn’t stop Bangkok from being full of ancient wonder and charm. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is one of the most famous Buddha statues in the world. Incredibly, it’s as long as the Statue of Liberty is high.

Wat Pho itself is the largest and oldest temple in Thailand. There are more than a thousand Buddha images in total, with the Reclining Buddha taking center stage. It is decorated with gold plating and mother of pearl. Wat Pho is also where you’ll find the famous massage school. The grounds are certainly worth a bit of exploration, so get your camera ready and enjoy. All the tuk tuk and taxi drivers in Bangkok will be happy to take you to Wat Pho, so you should have no problems finding it.

2. Chachoengsao

Chachoengsao is the capital of the province of the same name. It’s not so well known amongst tourists, but the locals certainly know about it and they flock there in their thousands every day. In terms of Buddha statues being revered, they don’t come much more so than here. Situated only 50 kilometers East of Bangkok, traveling to Chachoengsao is easiest by bus.
The only real attraction is Wat Sothon, which is allegedly one of the biggest temples in the world. People visit this temple to pay their respects to Luang Por Sothorn and to make wishes. Luang Por Sothorn is one of the most sacred Buddha statues in all of Thailand, and there are around 20 other statues in the temple. For a glimpse of Thai culture away from the touristy areas, this is a great place to visit. A little known secret is that the real Luang Por Sothorn is housed next door, and the one people pay their respects to is an exact copy.

3. Chiang Mai

The jewel in Northern Thailand’s crown is Chiang Mai. With a population of 170,000, it is a favorite spot for both tourists and locals, with many preferring the forgiving climate to Bangkok’s scorching heat. Chiang Mai is rich in cultural depth and beauty. There is so much to see and do, not least of all an impressive collection of Buddha images.

4. Ayutthaya

When Thailand was in its most glorious era, Ayutthaya was the capital and, you could say, the center of the world. The city was an incredible sight to behold until the Burmese invasion in 1767 that left it in ruins. Today, the remnants of Thailand’s golden years are here for all to see. Ayutthaya is a great place to walk around, and because it’s so compact you can hire a bicycle and see it all at your leisure. Be aware that it gets very hot, so take lots of water with you while you’re out and about.

Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopitah is home to a large, bronze Buddha statue. Wat Phra Mahathat is the famous site of the rows of headless Buddha’s. They are amazing to see, and somewhat spooky in their decapitated states. The biggest bronze Buddha in Ayutthaya can be found a little outside of town at Wat Nah Phra Meru, while Wat Phanancherng boasts its own enormous statue. Ayutthaya is easy to get to, either by bus or by train. Accommodation can cost as little as 100 baht with most of the guesthouses on soi Torgorsor. The locals are all very friendly and there is a strong feeling of community in Ayutthaya.

5. Sukhotai

Sukhotai is a small city with a population of around 35,000. It is in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of the Sukhotai province. Old Sukhotai, about 12 kilometers west of today’s main city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and where you’ll find the ruins of the ancient capital of the Sukhotai Kingdom. The old city has remained a permanent fixture on the tourist trail for years, not least of all because of the stunning Buddha images here. The Central Zone has been subject to extensive restoration, but the real delights can be found with a bit of exploration. The best way to see the ruins is to hire a bike and ride around by yourself.

Mat Mahathat has a large seated Buddha as well as two standing Buddha. Wat Sri Chum in the north zone has another enormous seated Buddha that’s great for taking pictures of. If you can get up early enough to see the sun rise, you’ll be able to witness the incredible effect the emerging sunlight has on the Buddha statues. There are plenty of budget places to stay and eat and Sukhotai is served by a small bus station.

Tags : Thailand Buddha, Thailand Buddhism, Thailand Religion

Hindus are concentrated in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and these places have been the hot spot of this culture since time immemorial. Unlike other religions, Hinduism does not recognize a single prophet and has multitude of gods and goddesses, mythologically numbering at around 30 millions! Such a figure is given in mythology by people of wisdom who have included all such perceptible forms as things of worship, so that man can see god in them and respect the existence of such all forms (plant, animal, stone, sky, stars, soil, water, rain, fellow human being, etc.). While failing to appreciate such deep meaning of the practices and beliefs, few people from within and outside have started criticizing negatively the Hindu way of life as something of superstition and irrelavancy.The same people have done precious little in appreciating the basic tenets, principles, thoughts, etc. of Hinduism while magnifying the seemingly negative and negative things. Also, Indian communists never miss an opportunity to point out that the name ‘Hindu’ or ‘Hinduism’ is not ancient and that the name has been given by Persian invaders. Yes, it might me true, but the way of life, its culture being followed since thousands of years in India, Nepal and in earlier days, in many other countries surrounding India, does not cease to exist, just because it does not have a indigenous name. For example, though coconut and rice are predominantly grown in south of India, they are mandatory for religious purposes in all parts of the country. Lord Srirama or Sri Krishna, though are believed to hail from the northern India, and are worshipped through out all the three nations.

The Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, though follow their own religions are still part of the Hindu way of life in that they worship the Hindu gods and goddesses and even name themselves after the Hindu names. Thus the term Hinduism, irrespective of the time and origin, represents the much older native culture and traditions of ancient India, comprising of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc.

Unlike the earlier Islamic invaders, known for violent way of promoting their religion by invading and destroying the local cultures and Christianity which is known for aggressive promotion through missionary activities, Hinduism is never known to have been promoted aggressively or purposively.Hindusim or people of the ancient culture of India have allowed religions like Buddhism to take root in India. In act Buddhism has not been promoted in other countries by Indians who traveled abroad, but it has been taken by those people from other countries who have traveled to India and back to their countries. Another great aspect of Hinduism is that it has promoted spirituality and recommended restraint in becoming overly materialistic. The knowledge gained by learned people, has been used for general good of the public (such as Ayurveda, Yoga etc). Even many traditional practices, have a scientific background relevant either to the olden times or even the present day. For example cow dung mixed with water is sprinkled in the front yard daily after sweeping and even the mud floors are applied with a dung paste periodically. Sprinkling dung mixed with water is known to be germicidal.

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