Temples, Monuments, and Museums

Bulldog in Georgia

Temples, Monuments, and Museums

So many special buildings and monuments! This is the Dance Pavilion at the Royal Palace. It's built high and open so that dancing or other shows could be held in a shady area with a cool breeze from the river.

The National Museum has a fantastic collection of Buddhist and Hindu statues and artifacts, as well as a beautiful garden.

I can't count (or name) all the Buddhist temples, stupas, centers, universities, and high schools. They all have similar architecture, as do many public buildings.

A statue of Buddha at the National Museum.

Ok, so one of the kings REALLY liked elephants, to the point where he used them in the city as his primary means of transportation. I think this is him.

Of course, his statue is flanked by elephants.

A side view of the Royal Dance Pavilion.

This stupa is at a pagoda further down the street from the Royal Palace.

Three kids at the lily pond at the National Museum.

This, I like. I always thought it was some kind of family altar, but my tour guide explained that this is a spirit house. While Buddhists believe in reincarnation, they think spirits aren't immediately reborn to a new life, so they need someplace to stay until that happens. That's what the spirit house is for.