Locals are flocking to this sunken Buddhist temple which has emerged again following a severe drought.<br /><br />The ancient Wat Nong Bua Yai Buddhist temple was built more than 100 years ago and was once the centre of the community in Lopburi, central Thailand.<br /><br />But the area was flooded and covered in water after developers built a dam connected to the Pasak Jolasid reservoir in 1999.<br /><br />The ancient temple been submerged ever since, only occasionally dropping in water levels.<br /><br />But following a severe drought this year, the reservoir has dropped to less than three per cent of its capacity.<br /><br />The shrines, pillars, stone steps and remains of the buildings - revered by Buddhists - are now visible again. <br /><br />Hundreds of Buddhist monks in orange robes and devout locals have been converging on the area in recent weeks to make offerings and pray to the monuments.<br /><br />Footage taken yesterday (August 7) shows hundreds of people converging on the area and placing coins in the ruins of the buildings for good luck.<br /><br />One visitor, Apichai Sanidpol, said: ''I knew what the temple was like when it was open. It was very special and always busy. My family came here.<br /><br />''When there's lots of rain again the temple will be covered with water again. We might never have a chance to see it again, so everybody is visiting and praying for good luck.''<br /><br />Thailand and much of South East Asia has been hit by severe drought this year caused in part by the El Nino warm phase which has lead to reduced rain.
