Thailand is world famous for its sculpture
that dates back 4,000
years. The most commonly used materials are wood, stone, ivory, clay and various metals.
The most notable sculptures are the Thai bronzes famous for their originality and grace.
Sukhothai Buddhas
Sukhothai was the original capital of the first Thai kingdom and is considered the "golden age" of Thai civilisation. The sculpture and architecture of the period is the most "classic" of Thai styles. The Sukhothai ruins have been declared a UNESCO World heritage site and cover a radius of some 5 kilometres and dates back to the 13th century. It is best to hire a cycle to tour these sites
Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho
This famous sculpture in Wat Pho in Bangkok is 46 metres long and 15 metres high. It is modelled in plaster on a brick core and finished in gold leaf. The feet are inlaid with mother of pearl.
Temple guardians at Wat Pho and applying gold leaf
Teak Buddha
Tiger Cave Temple, Krabi
In Krabi province in the south there is a large region of virgin
rainforest where a forest temple, the Tiger Cave Temple, has been built into a long
shallow limestone cave. There are also dozens of Buddhist monk cells in the numerous caves
in the cliffs. Many of the cave walls have been painted with Buddhist scenes.
The rainforest here is noted for the giant trees with huge buttress roots.
Mae Sot
Mae Sot on the north west border has a reputation as a "wild
east" town with a thriving black market trade with Myanmar across the river. It is
the centre of the jade and gem trade. South of the town is a large area of rainforest
reached by taking road known locally as "Death Highway" due to guerrilla
activity but more likely for the steep bends in the mountains.
Near Ban Ramat north of Mae Sot on a very poor track is a peaceful temple hidden away in the forest with a superbly carved serene marble Buddah. Few people visit this area, our guide was the local policeman which was reassuring as the border area was fairly wild.
Alabaster Buddha near Mai Sot on the Thai/Burma border