Thailand

Thailand’s glittering temples and golden Buddhas often steal the spotlight, but beneath the gilded roofs lies a deeper, older layer of sacred heritage—one richly infused with Hindu mythology and Khmer grandeur.

From the 9th to 13th centuries, much of present-day Thailand was under the cultural sway of the Khmer Empire, which left behind spectacular Hindu temples like Phanom Rung and Phimai. Built in reverence to Shiva and Vishnu, these sandstone sanctuaries mirror the architecture of Angkor in Cambodia, adorned with detailed bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata—epics that still echo through Thai classical dance and drama today.

Later, the rise of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya kingdoms (13th–18th centuries) saw a shift toward Theravāda Buddhism, yet Hindu deities remained integral to royal ceremonies and palace rituals. In Ayutthaya – named after Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Vishnu and Brahma appear alongside the Buddha in temple art and cosmological design, underscoring a uniquely Thai spiritual synthesis. Even today, shrines to Brahma and Ganesha dot urban landscapes like Bangkok.

From Khmer stone sanctuaries to royal city ruins, Thailand’s archaeological tapestry reveals a dynamic fusion of Indic religion, local animism, and Southeast Asian artistry. For the historically curious, it's a treasure trove where Hindu gods still quietly guard the heart of Buddhist Thailand.

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