Thailand never ceases to surprise us as a nation of intrigue, charm and immense hospitality. The country is of many impeccable experiences encapsulated within its unique destination.

The alluring spiritual side of Thailand has swiftly gained popularity. People worldwide come to Thailand to seek out a transcendental experience.

We have put together a list of 4 Thai destinations for a soulful journey:

The Wat Tham Suea, aka Tiger Cave Temple

The famous cave temple is surrounded by a thick forest and is one of Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist shrines.

Located north of Krabi, Wat Tham Suea is home to monks’ simple and peaceful lives. The temple is famous for its many caves and the Brobdingnagian golden statue of Buddha, which offers an astounding sight.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, aka Theravada Buddhist Temple

Located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is soaked in serenity. Legend has it that a white elephant was entrusted with a holy relic required to build the temple.

On its way, the elephant died at the Doi Suthep Mountain, and people built the temple in the same spot.

Wat Pho, aka Temple of Reclining Buddha

The temple is easily one of the most spiritual places in Bangkok. People gather here to meditate, pray and make offerings.

The temple was built in 1782 and is famous for the statue of an enormous reclining Buddha built in 1848. The recycling Buddha statue, 46 meters long and 15 meters high, is one of the most striking features of this temple.

Wat Marp Jan, aka Monastery of the Moonlit Mountain

It is a Thai forest monastery located in Rayong’s heart of the National Forest. The monastery was established nearly three decades ago and is a great place to get an outsider’s perspective of monk life.

The temple’s architecture, based on Mahayana and Theravada styles, is a symbolic representation of peace and harmony between different branches of Buddhism.

Thailand is the place to quench your thirst for a mystical and spiritual journey to true enlightenment. So for your next spiritual retreat, visit these places and experience the undeniable mysterious charm of Thailand.

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It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu known as Venkateshwara or Balaji. Around 50,000 people visit to worship the Lord each day. The number is huge, and so is the offerings made by the devotees. You will be surprised to know, that this temple is one of the richest temples in India. Well, this is not it! While having a closer look of the Lord Vishnu, you will notice that the deity has actual hair and has often seen sweating. Shocking, right? Despite the consistent efforts of the priest, the back of the idol stays wet.

There is a Vaikuntam Queue Complex, a network of connected halls that leads to the main temple. It serves as the entrance for the Darshan. With the different amenities offered, these halls are tidy and cozy. Now, while walking around you will find a picture of Lord Venkateshwara in the backside, if you place your ear carefully on it, you can clearly hear the sound of waves, interesting, right!

At last, but not the least, there is one more interesting thing about this temple. To enter the temple, you must fill out a declaration form in which you must affirm your belief in Lord Venkateshwara.

Timings:

Morning: 6:00 to 11:00 AM

Afternoon: 2:00 to 7:00 PM

Night: 8:00 to 1:00 AM

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Venkateshwara temple pic courtesy Avinashx, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lord Venkateswara pic courtesy Kalyan Kanuri, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Venkateshwara Temple: Temple of Mysteries! appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.