Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Asia 🢖 Wonders of Thailand
Territory
Wonders of Thailand
Highlights
Although Thailand is a tourist hotspot, most foreign tourists come here to relax and thus: to prepare for another stressful year of work and daily worries. The natural and cultural heritage of this country though offers a lot more. The most amazing wonders of Thailand are:
- Architecture and art values of Hinduist and Buddhist religious structures, which often are found also in exotic, ancient, abandoned cities, such as old Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Kampheng Phet.
- Limestone karst scenery along the coast of Andaman Sea. This includes many islands which look like stacks of rock rising from the sea, high cliffs, numerous caves and above all – beautiful scenery.
- Limestone karst in the north of the country. Here are located numerous caves, which often contain unique cave formations and very valuable archaeological artifacts. Notable landmarks in this area are also countless waterfalls and sinkholes.
Map with the described wonders
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Top 25 wonders of Thailand
Geological wonders
Phang Nga Bay
South
Sea bay with beautiful karst pinnacles and islands. Here is located also the famous Ko Tapu. This is a limestone stack that was featured in the James Bond movie in 1974.
Thi Lo Su Falls (Namtok Teelorsu, Thilawsu, Umphang Thee Lor Sue)
West
One of the largest falls in Thailand, some 200 – 250 m tall and approximately 400 m wide, spread in the jungle.
Phu Phrabat historical park
Northeast
Visually interesting geological formation with sandstone pillars, often seemingly unstable and defying gravity. The site has served as a ceremonial center and contains multiple prehistoric and historic cliff paintings (45 sites), and Buddhist carvings created in several periods by several cultures. In total there are 68 prehistoric structures, with interesting megaliths among them.
Erawan Falls
West
An extensive complex of waterfalls that fall over numerous tufa terraces.
Ko Tapu (James Bond Island)
South
An approximately 20 m high, rocky monolith that rises from Phang Nga Bay. Popular tourist attraction, especially because this island was featured in a James Bond movie in 1974. The area contains many more similar islands.
Tham Mae Usu
West
Very impressive cave, 1,586 m long, located in an impressive, 60 m deep sinkhole. Stream flows through the cave. It is possible that the water of the stream is heated by geothermal power – water is some 30 degrees C warm.
Amphoe Kumphawapi Stone Bridge
West
A natural bridge, 25 m wide and high, 30 m long, with a stream flowing under it.
Biological wonders
Mae Charim Yeties
North
Local people frequently have met enormous, hairy, and black creatures in this remote, mountainous area of Thailand. According to some stories, local people never leave their villages after dark due to these aggressive animals.
Wat Si Maha Pho bo tree
East
The largest bo tree (Ficus religiosa) in Thailand, with a circumference of some 22 m, height of some 30 m. According to legend it is 2,000 years old and brought from the sacred Bo Tree in Sri Lanka.
Archaeological wonders
Tham Lod Cave (Tham Lot)
North
1,666 m long cave system with Nam Lang River flowing approximately 1 km through it. The cave is adorned with beautiful, over 20 m high speleothems but unusual attractions are ornate teakwood coffins made some 1,700 years ago. The cave contains also prehistoric drawings of a deer, unfortunately, obliterated. The region contains at least 83 caves with such Iron Age burials, there are at least 12 rock art sites in local caves of this area.
Spirit Cave, Banyan Valley Cave, and Steep Cliff Cave
North
Important archaeological monuments. Spirit Cave was inhabited 9000 – 5500 BC by people of Hoabinhian culture. Well-preserved evidence of human activity has provided much valuable data, including some data that some decades ago created hot debates about the possible plant domestication in this area earlier than in most other areas of the world.
Tham Hua Kalok (Tham Phi Hua To)
South
Cave with prehistoric paintings in black and red colors. Drawings show people and weird animals. Stories about ghosts with big skulls living in this cave in earlier times – reportedly here have been found giant skulls. Other caves and cliffs in this region also contain prehistoric paintings.
Architecture wonders
Ayutthaya Old City
Central
The former capital of Siam from 1350 to 1767 when the city was destroyed by the Burmese. Around 1700 AD this city had approximately 1 million inhabitants – it was one of the largest in the world. The site still contains numerous ruins of Buddhist monasteries and temples, including the magnificent royal temple Wat Chaiwatthanaram (1630) with a 35 m high temple spire – prang.
Wat Rong Khun
North
One of the most astonishing achievements of modern religious architecture, a lifetime project of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The construction of this extremely ornate Hindu and Buddhist temple was started in 1997 and all the structure is made in white color.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
Central
Buddhist temple, established in 1357. Contains some 700 years old golden statue of Buddha as well as other treasures.
Wat Chedi Luang
North
This Buddhist temple was built over several stages since the 14th century AD. In the mid-15th century, the temple was 82 m high, but in 1545 an earthquake destroyed the upper 30 m of the structure.
Wat Phra Kaew
Central
The most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, its construction started in 1785. It consists of a group of richly decorated temples, statues, and pagodas. The central temple contains the Emerald Buddha, the palladium (symbolic keeper) of the Kingdom of Thailand. This sculpture is made of a single green jasper piece and clothed in gold.
Phra Pathom Chedi
Central
At 127 meters in height, it is the highest stupa in the world. The oldest buildings here were erected in the 4th century, with the existing building being completed in 1870.
Sukhothai Old City (Muang Gao, Sukothai)
Central
The former capital of the Sukhothai kingdom in 1238 – around 1380. Contains ruins of magnificent early Thai architecture from the 13th – 14th centuries. Important structures are remnants of fortification walls and temples – the royal Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum, and Wat Sa Si (Wat Sra Si).
Wat Benchamabophit
Central
Beautiful Buddhist temple that was built as a royal temple. Construction started in 1899.
Grand Palace of Bangkok
Central
The royal palace of the King of Thailand since the 18th century. Built in 1782 and since then constantly expanded, the total area reaches 94.5 ha. Palace has a magnificent, opulent architecture with a large amount of gold used for adornment.
Si Satchanalai
Central
Remnants of an ancient town. Here are located several impressive ancient temples and some 140 other structures. Some of the best are Wat Chang Lom and Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo temples.
Phanom Rung temple
Northeast
Beautiful Khmer temple complex built on the rim of an extinct volcanic complex in the 10th – 13th centuries AD. This Hindu temple is devoted to Shiva and symbolizes the sacred Mount Kailash.
Kamphaeng Phet (Kampheng Phet)
Central
Remnants of a formerly important city that was founded in the mid-14th century. The city includes a 6 m high defensive wall with a moat and numerous ornate structures overgrown with forest. Includes impressive temples such as Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Chang Rob.
Phimai Historical Park (Vimaya, Vimayapura)
Northeast
Important Khmer temple that marks the north-western end of the ancient highway from Angkor. This beautiful Buddhist temple is placed inside an enclosed, 1,020 x 580 m large area and was built in the 11th – 12th centuries. Now the temple buildings are in ruins.
Recommended books
Early Thailand: From Prehistory to Sukhothai
Dramatic new archaeological discoveries over the past ten years demand a new look at Thailand s past. Drawing on his previous work, Prehistoric Thailand, this book with over 40% new material, covers the history of the kingdom from the first human settlement.
