Hello World! Welcome Friends! Offering food, culture, and beaches, the Kingdom of Thailand is located in the heart of Southeast Asia comprising 76 provinces with Bangkok as the capital. This tropical beach destination is home to 1430 plus islands that offer the best beach holidays, 5-star staying facilities, and plenty of ancient sites to explore.
Do you know that only in 2023, nearly 28.15 million people from all over the world visited Thailand? The reason for this massive popularity is that Thailand is not just famous for massages, food culture, beaches, and resorts like several other destinations. This tropical heaven also offers several ancient sites to explore and street art and design culture to admire.
Top 4 Ancient Sites in Thailand
1. Ban Chiang
Dating back to 1495 BC, Ban Chiang is considered an important ancient site in southeast Asia and thus, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Why? The site offers a glimpse at the metal making, red pottery, and farming done in the past. Not only that but visitors can also look at the living quarters and burial grounds during The Bronze Age and the Neolithic period.
Did you know?
The Ban Chiang red pottery heritage site was discovered by accident in the 1960s by a Harvard Political Science student who was there to interview the locals for his Honors Thesis. One day, while walking on a mud path in the village, he slipped over a stone and fell on his face.
That’s when he observed the exposed parts of red-painted jars and pots which he recognized, were ancient judging by the designs. He diligently reported the matter to the Thai king at that time who took instant notice. After years of excavation, the site also unearthed several skeletons, rice remains, ceramics, bronze grave gifts, etc.
2. Phu Phra Bat
This ancient park is known for its weird rock formations, shaped due to the water erosion 15 million years ago. Tourists can observe 6,000-year-old paintings like Tham Wua and Tham Khon created first-hand by the past civilization. Some paintings that were present below the natural shelters and formed by the rocks have been preserved, whereas the others have worn with time.
Interesting Facts!
Phu Phra Bat also offers an interesting story about a king who imprisoned his daughter in one of the rock formations called Hor Nang Usa (that still stands tall) to keep her away from her beloved. The girl managed to send a message to her beloved from the confinement after which, they got married against the King’s orders.
3. Muang Sing
Dating back to a period between 800 and 1000 AD, this muddled ancient site was once the border of the Khmer Kingdom of Thailand and its military HQs. Tourists can observe some of these structures including the two shrines and two temples built in the Bayon style which can be seen in the Angkor Wat Temples.
This famous site also holds several domestic articles as well as Buddha statues. The most famous shrine here is the Prasat Muang SIng which has a central tower representing Mount Meru. The Hindus consider this site to be the center of the universe as per their scriptures.
4. Phimai
This ancient ruins site was discovered by a French person in 1900. The Thai government later took control of the site in the 1930s. Phimai houses shrines that are believed to be even older than the ones in the renowned Angkor Wat. Tourists can visit and observe the relics of a doorway, walls, and a tomb called Men Brahmadat.
This is the site where the king is believed to be cremated. Many buildings in Phimai date back to the 11th century and resemble the structures of Angkor Wat but on a smaller scale. Tourists can go 2 km further to a small island and witness a Banyan tree, speculated to be around 350 years old and considered to be the biggest Banyan tree in the world.
Explore Bangkok’s Street Art
Thai street art and design culture is spot on; and Bangkok is considered the hub of the finest street arts, graffiti, and art galleries. So let’s spot the top 3 street art sites in Bangkok that you can visit during your tour:
- Chalermla Park: The locals call it a Graffiti Park as the park is dedicated to exhibiting creative graffiti artwork of diverse artists. This simple park was turned into an open-air art gallery during the inaugural Bukruk Urban Arts Festival.
Today, the park exhibits the works of both unknown and popular street artists. The most famous attraction of the park is the ‘Falling Mardi’ by Alex Face. Mardi is famous as ‘Banksy of Bangkok’ and popular among the locals as the character is inspired by the young daughter of the artist himself.
- Khlong Saen Saep: visitors can stroll around this canal street and observe the amazing street arts on the way, created by local artists. They will also pass by the Jim Thompson House Museum, a great cafe, and the amazing YELO house art space.
The museum originally was actually a complex of a US capitalist Jim Thompson, made of teak wood in 1959. The YELO house was once a warehouse and then turned into a gallery and it also houses many on-site bistros, cafes, offices, and shops.
- Chok Chai 4: This place is a market with amazing displays of street art, showing messages of liberty and breaking free from shackles. Here the famous festival, Lud Pon, takes place yearly to exhibit the works of talented Bangkok street artists. The most famous of these artists include Pakorn, Panda Dew, Bonus, Bongo, Dark1, Alex Face, Asin, Chun Smith, etc.
Thailand has much more to offer than just luxury beach holidays. If you want to get it all, then start searching for the best travel deals 2024 offered by Virikson Holidays and embark on All inclusive Thailand luxury holidays.
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