Thai Temples and Temple Murals

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country with a rich and complex cultural heritage, evident in the profusion of gilded and decorated Buddhist temples, ancient and modern, that rise like glittering palaces from the landscape. Whether set in the luxuriant greenery of a remote village, or confined by the rapid commercial development of the city, these temples or, more properly, monastery compounds, are expressions in ornately embellished wood and stone of the vitality of the Buddhist faith in Thailand. In this introductory volume, the author presents a bird's eye view of the evolution and significance of Thai temple architecture and murals, and describes the most famous and most commonly visited temples for the tourist's benefit.