Wat Arun and Yi Peng Festival named ‘World Night View Heritage’ sites in Thailand

Thailand is now globally recognised for its post-sunset charms. Bangkok’s iconic Wat Arun temple and Chiang Mai’s widely-loved Yi Peng Festival are now a part of the distinguished World Night View Heritage Sites list.

This prestigious recognition was announced at the Japan Night View Tourism Summit in Bangkok. The honour highlights Thailand’s commitment to showcasing its stunning nighttime landscapes.

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Exploring Wat Arun And Yi Peng Festival, Bangkok’s ‘World Night View Heritage’ Sites

🇹🇭 The Tourism Authority of Thailand proudly announces that Bangkok’s iconic Wat Arun temple and Chiang Mai’s enchanting Yi Peng lantern festival have been recognized as “World Night View Heritage” sites.

✳️ PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/PvFvWBvwZE#Thailand #TATNews pic.twitter.com/MDaRm2km3i

— TAT Newsroom (@Tatnews_Org) July 30, 2024

Tucked along the Chao Phraya riverside, Wat Arun is touted for its towering pagoda ornamented with porcelain. The temple glimmers under the sun’s rays through the day, and come evening, it stages a beautiful play of lights from 6 pm to 6 am. This Buddhist temple’s unique architecture and scintillating display of lights every evening make it a sought-after destination among locals and tourists alike.

Another unmissable Thai experience is that of the Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai. This mesmeric lantern festival coincides with the Loi Krathong Festival, celebrated across the country on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. However, the gatherings in Chiang Mai boast an uncontested appeal. Be it homes enveloped in the flickering glow of the lanterns, street parades with people donned in traditional Lanna costumes, or the sky sprinkled with lantern-shaped pixie dust, the festival ought to be on your Thailand bucket list.

This article originally appeared on Travel + Leisure Asia.