Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Counterfeit Goods Museum

Discover Counterfeit Goods Museum in Bangkok, Thailand: A museum in a law office, filled with authentic and counterfeit goods.

Sala Keoku

Discover Sala Keoku in Tambon Wat That, Thailand: Bizarre Hindu and Buddhist sculpture park.

Bat Caves of Khao Yai National Park

Discover Bat Caves of Khao Yai National Park in Hin Tung, Thailand: Thousands of bats stream out of caves every night on the edge on Thailand's second largest park.

Rafflesia

Discover Rafflesia in Khlong Sok, Thailand: Surat Thani's official flower—and the world's largest—smells of rotting meat.

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute

Discover Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute in Bangkok, Thailand: A collection of poisonous snakes and reptiles for the whole family to enjoy.

Ko Hin-Ngam

In Thailand stands Ko Hingham, a small uninhabited island that no one would ever bother to visit. Unless, of course, the gods had decided to adorn the entire island with precious stones. Which according to Thai mythology, they did. Precious, indeed, bec…

Giant Swing

Discover Giant Swing in Bangkok, Thailand: For centuries young Thai men used this Giant Swing as a slingshot to heaven.

Baan Dam – Black House

Discover Baan Dam – Black House in Nang Lae, Thailand: An entire elephant skeleton, snake skin table runner, and thousands of animal remains become art in Thailand's Black House.

Nightingale-Olympic

Discover Nightingale-Olympic in Bangkok, Thailand: Time-frozen department store of dangerous and dusty relics.

Wat Tha Ka Rong

Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya river away from the tourist center of Ayutthaya, Wat Tha Ka Rong, aka The Temple of the Blackbird or the Monastery of the Landing of the Crying Crow, is an unexpected novelty away from the main city center. Forme…

Banphasawan

Discover Banphasawan in Ban Tai, Thailand: From dragonfruit to mangoes to durian this Thailand resort allows guests to stay inside all manner of giant fruit.

Cabbages & Condoms

Discover Cabbages & Condoms in Bangkok, Thailand: A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.

Sanctuary of Truth

Discover Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand: A modern temple with an ancient philosophy.

Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic)

Discover Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic) in Bangkok, Thailand: The headquarters of the Mahanikai school of Buddhism, Thailand's largest monastic order.

Siriraj Medical Museum

Discover Siriraj Medical Museum in Bangkok, Thailand: A treasure trove of pathological, forensic, parasitological, and anatomical specimens.

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Discover The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden in Tambon Saen Suk, Thailand: Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell.

Amulet Market

Discover Amulet Market in Bangkok, Thailand: Bangkok's men with dangerous jobs come here in search of protective talismans.

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To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 480 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 514 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 642 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 137 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 172 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 98 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 168

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