What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2023? [toc] The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or Nine Emperor Gods Festival) happens once a year, during the ninth lunar month, and is one of the most auspicious events on Phuket island. For this unique occasion, a crowd of devotees assemble in every Chinese shrine around the island, followed by an even bigger horde of photographers avid to get the shot of their life. The
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Phuket most iconic landmark [toc] Phuket Big Buddha is a 45-metre-tall white marble statue visible from anywhere in the southern part of Phuket. This impressive landmark is probably at the top of everyone's 'Must-Do in Phuket' and is jaw-dropping. The panoramic views from up there are breathtaking. Koh Samui always had a very popular Giant Buddha, and Phuket wanted a bigger one. In addition, it is free to visit the
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Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan) [toc] Loha Prasat, or Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, is a superb temple in the old city of Bangkok, easily identified by its 37 golden spires. In the recent past, Loha Prasat was known as the iron temple or the metal castle because the 37 iron spires were originally bare and black. It did have some mysterious charm and was unique in Bangkok. The golden leaves were
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Wat Phra Kaew Bangkok [toc] The Grand Palace of Bangkok, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Phra Kaew (or Wat Pra Kaew) are, without a doubt, the most famous landmarks in Bangkok, often seen in many movies. Despite being such a touristic icon, this is still the number one place to see while in Bangkok, a marvel of delicate and intricate craftwork, architecture, carving and painting. Wat Phra
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Phuket's most important temple [toc] Wat Chalong, or Chalong Temple (officially Wat Chai Thararam), is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. According to some sources, it was built at the beginning of the 19th century, 1837. Chalong Temple is one of the Must-See places in Phuket, and the nearby Big Buddha of Phuket, as they are relatively close. [caption id="attachment_19591" align="alignnone" width="1800"] Arriving at Wat
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The Temple of the reclining Buddha [toc] Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha, is such an iconic landmark of Bangkok that it is on everyone's list of places to visit, even on a short trip. Also known as the Temple of the reclining Buddha, it is the sanctuary of one of the world's largest Buddha statues and more than a thousand images. It is also one of Bangkok's
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The Golden Mount of Bangkok [toc] Wat Saket Bangkok, more officially Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, is a Buddhist temple in Rattanakosin, far from the famous Khao San Road. And the famous Golden Mount, easily visible from a distance, is called Phu Khao Thong, but when asking for directions, everyone calls it 'Wat Saket'. The golden mount we see today is built on the remains of a previous unsuccessful attempt to
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7 Buddha postures for each days of the week [toc] If you have been to a temple (or 'Wat') in Thailand, you might have noticed that the Buddha appears in standing, sitting or reclining postures. In some, you will see seven or eight statues of Buddha aligned next to each other, often with a donation cup in front of it. So what do these 7 Buddha postures mean? Many people
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What to do in Wat Arun? [toc] Wat Arun, also known as the temple of Dawn, is a significant landmark of Bangkok, built before 1656. It's much more modest than Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace or Wat Pho and the Giant Reclining Buddha, but its iconic shape is better known in many ways. Just look at the back of a 10 Baht coin, and you will recognise it
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Phuket Chinese temples and shrines [toc] Phuket's Chinese shrines always offer an excellent opportunity for some good photos. There are quite a few around, and each has its characters and unique features. The large ones are very popular during Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October and can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud from firecrackers. 1. Jui Tui Shrine Best known and
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Amazing Buddhist temples of Phuket [toc] Phuket temples, or Wats, are always worth a visit; from the temple hidden inside a cave to the famous Wat Chalong, a visit to Thailand would not be complete without exploring a few of these magnificent and beautifully ornamented buildings ('Wat' means 'Temple', you guessed it). Phuket has many temples; we will probably list them one by one, but many are difficult to find or
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One of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket [toc] Tha Rua Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, found in Thalang District on Thepkasattri Road about 800m south of the Heroines’ Monument. It’s an important site during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, when thousands of devotees come to hold ceremonies and eat vegetarian food during the event’s nine days. Tha Rua Shrine is also an important place
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[toc] Kio Thian Keng Shrine is a colourful Chinese shrine that is set on the seashore inside Saphan Hin public park in Phuket Town. It’s a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Kio Thian Keng Shrine is one of the newer Chinese shrines in Phuket, and
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The Kathu Shrine [toc] Lai Thu Tao Bo Keng is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, and many believe it was the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival nearly two centuries ago. The shrine is located in the subdistrict of Kathu in the island’s interior, between Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Though it’s not well known as a tourist attraction, Kathu Shrine is an important part of the
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Sam Kong Shrine in Phuket Town [toc] Lim Hu Tai Su is a Chinese Taoist shrine on the north side of Phuket Town, also known as Sam Kong Shrine, for the neighbourhood it’s found in. Though not as well known by visitors as larger Chinese shrines like Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket’s Old Town area, Sam Kong Shrine is a revered place of worship for the local community. It’s become
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Wat Phra Nang Sang [toc] Wat Phra Nang Sang was built more than 200 years ago and was originally known as Wat Takian; and is one of the oldest Thai temples in Phuket. This unusual temple was built when Thalang was the main city of Phuket Island and even was the scene of a battlefield during the Burma war in 1785. For many years, Wat Phra Nang Sang was a
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Shop and try local food at Karon Temple Market [toc] The Karon Temple Market has grown steadily in popularity in the past years. Because it only occurs twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays), people start to plan their evenings around that event. Night markets have always been popular in Phuket and all over Thailand, but a Temple market sounds more exotic. Also, Karon Beach lacks a few attractions, so the
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A beautiful hidden Buddhist temple in Phuket [toc] Wat Kathu, or Kathu temple, is a not very well-known landmark among tourists, but local photographers know how beautiful it is. This Buddhist temple is on the way to Phuket Town and not far from Patong, but because it stands away from the main road, most people don't even consider visiting it. Wat Kathu is not very big but certainly has a
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Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town [toc] Jui Tui Shrine (Kew Ong) is one of the oldest and most important on Phuket Island. It plays a significant role during the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival, usually held in October and November. The festival dates use the Lunar Calendar, and the festival's exact dates change every year, so if you plan to travel to Phuket to see this event, check the dates
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Wat Doi Thepnimit Phuket [toc] Wat Thepnimit Phuket is a monastic residence with a fantastic panoramic view over Patong beach. You can see its iconic white pagoda from the beach, if you know in which direction to look, of course, it's pretty tiny. Doi Thepnimit is a small but beautifully decorated Thai temple, and with such a view, it's worth stopping on your way in or out of Patong beach.
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