Phra Pathom Chedi at Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakorn Pahom, Thailand by ScorpianPK licensed under the terms of CC BY-SA 3.0
At nearly 400 feet tall, this unusual structure has the distinction of being the tallest stupa in the world.
What’s a stupa, you ask? Why, a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine, of course!
This particular stupa has its origins way back in 193 BC. The Indian emperor Ashoka sent monks to Southeast Asia to help spread Buddhism. Once they built this shrine, it became one of the most important holy sites in the region for centuries.
In the 1500s, the city was rebuilt under a new leader, and the stupa was forgotten in the jungle. The ruins were rediscovered in 1831, and after a long period of reconstruction, it was restored in 1871.
Today, Phra Pathom Chedi serves as a gathering place for annual festivals. It was even nominated as a World Heritage Site due to its rich history and cultural significance.
