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