Wat Chom Sawan : Phrae

Just one kilometre from the townhall on Yantrakit Koson Road is Wat Chom Sawan, a Burmese architectural style temple. The building which combines the hall for conducting religious rituals and monk's living quarters is beautifully decorated both in its interiors and exteriors.

The over-lapping roofs are adorned with fine fretworks. Antiquities found here include marble Buddha statues, statues made of woven bamboos coated with lacquer, and Buddha statues made from ivory, as well as ivory scripture slabs with Burmese scripts.

Tags: Phrae/Wat Chom Sawan/thai temple/Thailand temple/temple/Wat

Wat Thepthidaram : Bangkok

Wat Thepthidaram was built by King Rama III in 1836 for his daughter, Princess Kroma Muen Apsomsudathep. It was originally called ""Wat Ban Phrayakrai Suanluang".

Located on Mahachai Road, the temple was built with a mixture of Chinese architectural styles. Sunthon Phu, one of Thailand’s greatest poets, had resided in this temple during his monkshood from 1840 - 1842.

tags : Wat Thepthidaram /Bangkok/Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Wat Phra Kaeo : KamphaengPhet Province

Wat Phra Kaeo is a large royal temple in town centre near a site believed to have been a palace. The temple itself was used on important city events and had no monks in residence. Major features include the principal Chedi with lion-adorned base and a round Chedi with elephant-adorned base. There are also other Chedis of different bases and remains of several chapels. Its boundary is marked off by laterite walls.

[article & photo credit to :www.thai-tour.com]

tags : Wat Phra Kaeo /KamphaengPhet /Thailand /temple

Khao Kradong Park : Buriram

[ Phra Suphattharabophit ]

This forest park is 6 kilometres from the city on the Buriram-Prakhon Chai road (Highway No. 219). Khao Kradong is an extinct volcano that is 265 meters high. The summit of the mountain has a pool which is believed to be the mouth of the volcano. Around the area are several plant species worth studying and Phra Suphattharabophit, an important Buddha image of the province.

tags : Khao Kradong Park /Buriram/Thailand /Buddha image

Wat Rajapradit : Bangkok

Wat Rajapradit is situated next to Saranrom Park closed to Khlong Ku Muang Derm Road, on the opposite side of the canal from Wat Rajabopit. King Rama IV ordered the construction of Wat Rajapradit Sathitmahasimaram in 1864 as the first temple of Dhammayutika sect. The phra vihara luang is constructed on a high base and is beautifully decorated. In the temple there are eight stone pillars, each surmounted by a carving of the Buddhist Wheel of Law (Dhammachak), one for each of the eight directions, hence the name "Mahasimaram".

During the construction of the phra vihara luang, which is the phra ubosot, it was found that the ground was rather low and the earth soft. If earth and sand were used as landfill the ground would still continue to subside. King Rama IV therefore ordered that broken garlic jars be used as landfill because the jars was especially strong.

In the phra vihara luang, there are murals depicting the royal ceremonies of the twelve months, including the Giant Swing Ceremony, Songkran, Visakha Puja as well as a picture of King Rama IV using as a telescope for his astronomical studies. On one side of the phra vihara luang there is a standing statue of King Rama IV and nearby there is a statue of the Supreme Patriarch (Sa) in a chedi covered with marble tiles.

photo and article credit to dhammathai.org

tags : Wat Rajapradit /Bangkok/Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Bangkok Songkran Festival

Date: 12 – 15 April 2008

Venue: at 9 royal temples and around Rattanakosin Island

Hi-Light:

• Songkran Celebration of the 4 Regions (southern section of Sanam Luang near Wat Phra Kaeo)
  
  
• Bathing of Buddha images from the 4 regions, local food and dessert making demonstrations, and cultural shows from various regions.
  Open Ceremony on 12th April 2008 18.00-21.00 hrs. at Wat Arun
  
  
• Paying worship at 9 royal temples around Rattanakosin Island. On 12-15 April 2008 09.00-18.00 hrs. :
  Wat Phra Sri Rattanasasadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo)
  Wat Chetaphon (Wat Pho)
  Wat Suthat
  Wat Saket
  Wat Bowonniwet
  Wat Chanasongkram
  Wat Rakung
  Wat Arun (Wat Chaeng), and Wat Kalayanamitr
  
  
• Fun-filled splashing in traditional Thai dress, Khao San Road with various forms of Songkran fun, on 4-15 April 2008 at 17.00-18.00 hrs.
  
  
• Banglamphu community at Santi Chaiprakarn Park, Phra Athit Road and Wisut Kasat., on 12-13 April 2008
  
  Further Information : Events Planning Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
  Tel. 02 250 5500 ext. 3470. TAT Call Center 1672
  
  source: www.songkran.net
  

tags : Songkran Festival /Songkran/Khao San Road /ฺBangkok

History of The Songkran Festival

Deriving from the Sansakrit language, the word “Songkran“ means to pass or to move into. In this context, the meaning implies to the passing and the moving of the sun, the moon and the other planets into one of the zodiacal orbit. And the Grand Songkran Festival which falls on the Aries indicates the new era of the Thai New Year. Owing to the ancient Indian belief, the Grand Songkran Festival is most appropriate to be the Thai New Year due to the timing of the best season which is known as the spring of India which comes right after the cold season of winter. Also, there are other aspects supporting this belief such as the blooming flowers, the fresh atmosphere of the nature and the livelihood of all the living creatures.

With the great influence from the Indians, the Songkran Festival portrays the typical ways of life of the Thais which involve the agricultural aspects. Free from their regular routine work, the Thai citizens will find time to perform their annual rites of showing respect to their ancestors. The highlight of the festival will include the younger Thais paying respect to their elders by sprinkling their hands with scented water. And in order to welcome the New Year, the celebration will include the delighted colourful local entertainment which, in fact, suitably unite the mutual relationship between members of the family, the society, the nature and surrounding. Therefore, this Songkran Festival has proved to be the most important and grandest festival of the year. Moreover, our neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have also organised this type of festival.

Since the old days during the Sukhothai period, the Songkran Festival had been practised both in the royal court palace and among the ordinary citizens. However, the size of the celebration had not been as elaborated as of today. Back in those days, civil servants and other government officials would pay homage to the king, and would drink the oath of allegiance to the king or the government, while the king would provide annual salary to all officials. Later on in Ayutthaya period, the festival had been expanded by including the bathing of the Buddha image. Also, the festivities would include the forming of sand pagodas and entertaining celebrations. In the Rattanakosin period, the rituals had been conducted in the similar pattern as those during the Ayutthaya period.

history source : www.songkran.net

tags : Songkran Festival /Songkran/Thailand Festival /Thai New Year

Wat Phra Mahathat : Nakhon Si Thamarat Province

[ photo credit : dhammathai.org ]

Wat Phra Mahathat is the most important temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat. This is originally an old monastery of Nakhon Si Thamarat, situated in the heart of the city. It is believed to be constructed during Sivichaya period in compliance with the idea of Mahayana Buddhism School. An extensive complex is centred on the 77-metre pagoda houses Buddha relics brought from Sri Lanka some 1,700 years ago.

The pagoda, 55.78 meters high, has a distinctive Sri Lankan style. The top is entirely covered by pure gold. Inside the temple are many buildings of importance, especially the royal building which has beautiful architecture from the Ayutthaya period and the Sam Chom building where the Buddha image attired in royal wardrobe Phra Si Thamma Sokarat is housed. There are also the Phra Maha Phinetkrom (the equestrian image) building, the Thap Kaset building, while the Khian and Pho Lanka buildings are used to display artifacts donated to the temple by Buddhists.

Besides, there are a lot of other important archaeological places such as Vihara Luang, Vihara Khien, Vihara Khot, Vihara Pho Lanka, museum, etc.

tags : Wat Phra Mahathat /Nakhon Si Thamarat /Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Prasat Sikhoraphum : Surin Province

Si Khoraphum khmer sanctuary located at Tambon Ra Ngaeng, Amphoe Sikhoraphum, 34 kilometers from the provincial town along the Surin Sikhoraphum route with a left turn of 800 meters at Amphoe Prasat.

The Prasat Sikhoraphum is composed of 5 prang (pagoda), with the principal structure measuring 32 meters high. Beautiful designs are engraved onto the columns. It is believed that the site had been renovated once during the Ayutthaya Period.This site was built around the 17th Buddhist century.

Prasart Sikhoraphum is opened every day from 07.30 A.M. - 06.00 P.M. Admission fee is 30 Baht.

tags : Prasat Sikhoraphum /ancient ruins/khmer sanctuary /Thai

Wat Chalong : Phuket Province

[ photo credit to wadthai.info ]

Wat Chalong is Phuket’s most important Buddhist temple and is the biggest and most ornate of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist monasteries.This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham,who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V.

There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam. Other monks, who
were abbots of the temple during later times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of the
offerings by Phuket people generally.

Wat Chalong, was built in 1837.The architecture is typical of Wats found throughout Thailand.A recent addition to the temple is a 61.4-meter high chedi containing the Phra Borom Sareerikatat relic, a piece of the Lord Buddha's bones brought over from Sri Lanka.The chedi is a mixture of southern, central and northeastern architectural styles and is the first in this region to house the holy Buddha's relic.

How to get there. :
Wat Chalong is about 8 kms. outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left

Related tags : Wat Chalong /Phuket/Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Wat Chang Lom : Sukhothai Province

Wat Chang Lom is located to the north of Chotwithithong Road with a bell-shaped chedi of Ceylonese influence standing as the center. The chedi is situated on a 3-tiered square base on which a platform decorated with a row of elephants seen by their front halves supporting the round chedi.
This type of elephant-decorated chedi is to be seen in many ancient towns of Sukhothai period, for example, Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai.

[ photo source : www.info.ru.ac.th ]

Related tags : Sukhothai /Wat Chang Lom/Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Beautiful Buddha image of Wat Si Chum : Sukhothai Province

The Buddha image of Wat Si Chum ( Phra Achana )

[ photo credit to : traveleradvisor ]

Wat Si Chum
This lies about 1,500 meters north of Wat Mahathat and was originally surrounded by a moat. A square mondop is the main sanctuary and contains a monumental stucco-over-brick Buddha image in the attitude Subduing Mara, called "Phra Achana". This Buddha measures 11.30 meters from knee to knee.

The mondop is 32 meters square and 15 meters high, and the walls are 3 meters thick. There is a passageway in the left inner wall itself which leads to the above crossbeam. On the ceiling of the passageway are more than fifty engraved slate slabs illustrating Jataka scenes.

At Wat Si Chum there is a mondop that houses a large stucco image of the Buddha in the Marnvichai position, as described in the first stone inscription. A tunnel has been made leading to the temple's south wall, where there is a stariway to the roof. Over the ceiling are 20 stone pillars, with inscriptions in the Thai alphabet of the Sukhothai Period

Related tags : Sukhothai /Wat Si Chum/Thailand Temple /Buddha image/Wat Mahathat

Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng and Wat Sa Si : Sukhothai Province

Wat Khao Phanom Phleng is a hilltop temple within the old town of Si Satchanalai. A laterite chedi in the center, s large viharn or image hall in front, and a small sanctuary behind all lie in ruins. Some laterite pillars and a damaged Buddha's image constructed of latelite slabs and coated with mortar are still to be seen.


Wat Sa Si
Situated near Wat Chanasongkhram is Wat Sa Si. Around a Singhalese-style chedi is the main sanctuary on an island in the middle of Traphang Trakuan pond. A large viharn contains a stucco Buddha image. To the south stand nine chedis of different sizes.

Related tags : Sukhothai /Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng/Thailand Temple /Wat Chanasongkhram

Wat Suwannakhuha : Phang Nga Province

[photo credit to thai-tour ]

This temple is located in Mu 2, Tambon Krasom. Take Highway No. 4, (Phang-nga - Ban Khok Kloi route) for 7 kilometres and upon reaching the kilometre 31 marker at Amphoe Takua Thung, there is an asphalt road going to the right to the temple, one kilometre away. The locals call this temple Wat Tham. This is an interesting temple of all in Phang-nga since it is of historical and archaeological importance. Within the boundary of the temple is a mountain with numerous caves. Tham Yai is located at the lowest level and, inside, the total length of the cave walls is decorated ceramic tiles, bowls as well as terra cotta ware and Benjarong ware. It is also used as a temple and houses various manners of Buddha images, one of which is a splendid reclining Buddha image. You can also see many Royal Monograms inscriptions on the walls of the cave.

Related tags : Wat Suwannakhuha/thai temple/Phang Nga/Reclining Buddha/Wat Thai

Wat Thai Watthanaram ( Wat Thai Yai ) : Tak Province

[photo credit to takcity ]

This temple is located at Mu 1, Tambon Ta Sai Luat, on the way to the Rim Moei border market, just 500 meters from the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. The temple was originally known as Wat Thai Yai as the construction of the temple was greatly influenced by Burmese culture and Mahayana Buddhism. Enshrined within the temple are a reclining Buddha image and a marble Buddha image. In addition, on the second floor of the main Viharn, a collection of Burmese musical instruments, including tuned drums and gongs are on display.

source: tourismthailand


Related tags : Wat Thai Watthanaram/thai temple/reclining Buddha/Wat Thai