Thailand Revealed: Temples of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai (Travel Guide)

Travel guidebooks for the ultra curious, Approach Guides reveal a destination’s essence by exploring a compelling aspect of its cultural heritage: art, architecture, history, food, or wine.

Bagan is one of the most magnificent and inspiring sites in Southeast Asia. With over 2,000 temples and stupas dotting its landscape, this ancient Buddhist capital provides travelers a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of Bagan's art and architecture over its 450-year history (850-1300). 

In this Approach Guide, we explore the art and architecture of Bagan, looking at the most important temples and exploring their artistic styles, why each is important to Bagan’s cultural history, and how each evolved over time.

This Approach Guide is broken into two sections:

The first section, an overview, provides travelers with a deep understanding of the two types of religious architecture they will encounter in Bagan (temples and stupas) and the art forms used to decorate them (paintings and sculpture).   To provide a complete picture, we provide floorplans, images that highlight specific features and decoration, descriptions of the prevailing Bagan aesthetic, subject matter, and stylistic development.

The second section provides detailed profiles of 21 specific sites that offer the quintessential examples of Bagan’s architecture, painting, and sculpture.  For each site we first discuss the overall layout of the site, the exterior appearance and decoration, and finally the interior decoration and important architectural elements.

This Approach Guide contains:

• Over 120 high-resolution images.
• More than 20 floorplans with color highlights that make visual identification of key features easier.
• A high-level map of Bagan’s sites to ease navigation and plan your itinerary.

The overall goal of these site profiles is provide the traveler with what is most important, a framework for understanding each site and what makes it special.

FREE UPDATES

One of the benefits of Approach Guides is that we can easily update content and release new editions of our guidebooks. These updates are free for existing customers. Please visit http://approachguides.com/updates for a list of recently updated guides and instructions on downloading the new version.

PRAISE FOR APPROACH GUIDES

Compulsive (and compulsively informed) travelers, the Raezers are the masterminds behind the downloadable Approach Guides, which are filled with a university course-worth of history and insights for 62 destinations worldwide. WHY WE LOVE IT: The Raezers share our desire for deep, well-researched information on the wonders of the world.
- Travel + Leisure

What started as one couple's travel notes aimed at filling in the gaps in guidebooks has become ApproachGuides.com - a menu of downloadable travel guides that cover cultural and historical topics of interest to thoughtful travelers.  What's hot: Bite-sized travel guides that specialize in topics ranging from 29 pages on the foods of Italy to one that helps you explore the historical and architectural significance of Angkor's famous temple structures in Cambodia.
- LA Times

Approach Guides encompass the whole cultural experience of a place, whether it is Ancient Buddhist Caves in India and China, Islamic Cairo, Ancient Mediterranean Mosaics, or a Guide to the Regional Foods of Italy. Each guide delves into the subject, truly exploring it (and making you want to GO THERE NOW). Perfect for the thinking traveler, Approach Guides are one of the best travel guides I've ever found.
- Wandering Educators

'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other'. New York Times
The ultimate, most comprehensive guide to travelling in Bangkok includes up-to-date reviews of the best places to stay, eat, sights, cultural information, maps, transport tips and a few best kept secrets - all the essentials to get to the heart of Bangkok.

This guide is the result of one dedicated author who immersed themselves in Bangkok, finding unique experiences, and sharing practical and honest advice, so you come away informed and amazed.

Regions covered: Ko Ratanakosin, Thonburi, Banglamphu, Dusit Palace Park, Thewet, Dusit, Chinatown, Siam Square, Pratunam, Ploenchit, Ratchathewi, Riverside, Silom, Lumphini, Thanon Sukhumvit, Greater Bangkok, Day Trips from Bangkok
Inside Lonely Planet Bangkok:

• Full color styling and images
• Clear, easy-to-read color maps
• A brilliant new page layout for fast and hassle-free reading while on the go
• Up-to-date recommended points-of- interest - covering eating, sleeping, going out, shopping, activities and attractions
• In-depth features to uncover the world's iconic sights
• Hundreds of money saving tips
• Our latest trip planning tools to help you get around smoothly
• Additional sections including Top Experiences, in-depth coverage of Top Sights, History, Gay & Lesbian Bangkok, The Sex Industry in Thailand, and an A-Z survival guide.

Special eBook enhancements

• Scalable maps - enabling you to zoom in for greater detail
• Comprehensive interlinking - enabling you to seamlessly flip between pages, jump between maps and reviews, or visit the websites of places we recommend
• Search - go straight to what you are looking for with the inbuilt search capability
• Add notes - touch a word to add notes and personalize your guidebook
• Bookmark - use bookmarks to quickly return to a page
• Dictionary - look up the meaning of any word
• Plus pinch and zoom images and scalable font size

Written and researched by Austin Bush

Table of Contents:

Essentials: Phrasebook Talk Eat Drink Sleep Contact Respect Stay Safe Driving in Europe Units Conversion

1. General: History Geography & Climate Demographics Culture

2. Maps: Sofia Bus Sofia Airport Metro Bulgaria: Regions Railroad Roads Vitosha

3. Transport: Get in Get around Airport Metro Central Railway Station

4. Attractions: Top 10 Itinerary Buy

5. Culture: Architecture Museums Cultural Venues Sports

6. Landmarks: See Buildings Churches Monuments Parks

7. By Area: Squares Get out
7.1 More Cities: Burgas Plovdiv Rousse Varna Veliko Turnovo
7.2 Other Destinations: Bulgarian Mountains Central Balkan National Park Pirin National Park Rila National Park Vitosha

8. Bulgaria: Get in Get around Geography Regions History Politics Culture Attractions UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cuisine Drink Sleep Buy Stay Healthy

In this ebook, you'll get the same expert advice that you'll find in all Frommer's guides, from candid reviews and detailed maps to insider tips from our local authors. Plus, we’ve added planning and background information as well as our signature "Best of " features.

This Frommer’s ShortCuts to Botswana, South Africa includes: Botswana, the Okavango Delta & Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe & Linyanti Region, and The Dry South: Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans.

In this ebook, you'll get the same candid reviews and insider tips that you'll find in all Frommer's guides. Plus, we’ve added planning and background information as well as our signature "Best of " features.

Search for more Frommer’s ShortCuts. Mix and match the exact destinations you need for your trip, and create your own Frommer’s ShortCuts collection.