The global artist, 'Lisa from BLACKPINK', has created a trend with every move she makes, even donning Thai traditional attire to pay respect to the temples and sightseeing in Ayutthaya province. She posted pictures on her personal Instagram account, which has a staggering 94.6 million followers.
Fans did some sleuthing and found out that the Thai dress Lisa wore was a "Mudmee tie-dyed indigo clay-dyed fabric", patterned with the "Naga’s scythe", a distinctive symbol of the Isan people. This ancient pattern, woven by elderly artisans for merit-making ceremonies, was sent directly from "Chan Reun" shop in Udon Thani province.
Moreover, Lisa's visit has brought Ayutthaya back into the global tourism spotlight, particularly amongst her fanbase, the 'Blinks'.
As for the temples in Ayutthaya province where 'Lisa from BLACKPINK' went to pay respects and have seen a significant number of people following in her footsteps, there are three temples in total that we will introduce:
1.) Wat Na Phra Meru Rachikaram, an ancient temple from the Ayutthaya period located near the northern edge of the city moat. It is the only temple in the city that was not destroyed when the city fell. It still maintains its completeness and beauty, from the Ubosot to the principal Buddha statue, a large cast bronze image in the Mara Vichai posture known as "Phra Puttanimitr Wichitman Moli Sripanpetch Barommatria Lokkanat" and the ancient Phra Kantararat statue, which is over 1,000 years old.
2.) Wat Maha That, located within an important archaeological site, has the prominent Phra Prang Wat Maha That, built during the early Ayutthaya period. In the past, the inner chamber housed royal relics and valuable adornments. However, today the royal relics have been enshrined at the National Museum, Chao Sam Phraya. Here, you can also find a "sandstone Buddha head" entwined in the roots of a tree since the city fell. The roots now cover the Buddha head in an unusual and beautiful way, a scene selected by UNESCO, France as a global heritage image in both natural and cultural categories.
3.) Wat Maenangpluem, an ancient temple with the revered Luang Por Khao. The origin of the temple began with Maenang Pluem, a villager living alone by the river. One day, King Naresuan the Great rowed alone amidst the rain and stopped at her hut. She invited him in and took care of him, impressing the King. When he returned to the palace, he sent a procession to bring Maenang Pluem to live in the palace. After her death, King Naresuan built a temple in her memory, named "Wat Maenangpluem".
All three temples are now marked as significant travel destinations by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, following in the footsteps of "Lisa from BLACKPINK". During holidays, many tourists visit these sites to pay respect and take photos.