Phra That Satcha : Loei

[ photo credit to www.thai-tour.com ]

Phra That Satcha is located in the area of Wat Lat Pu, Ban Tha Li. on the Highway 201, turn left at the junction to the Highway 2115 Tha Li - Ahi route. The Wat is 2 kilometers from Amphoe Tha Li Administrative Office. the architectural structure of Phra That Satcha consists of the blossomed lotuses with 3 layered petals, one meter high sprung around pagoda. The Phra That, similar in style to Phra That Phanom, is 33 meters high and topped with the white 7 tiered umbrella of sovereignty.

Tags:Phra That Satcha /Loei/Thailand /Wat Lat Pu

Phra That Si Song Rak : Loei

[ photo credit to www.thai-tour.com]

Phra That Si Song Rak is located on the Phra That Si Song Rak bank of Man River about one kilometer away from Amphoe Dan Sai. Constructed in 1560, it commemorates the mutual cooperation between Krung Sri Ayutthaya and Krung Sri Satana Kanahut (Vientiane). The structure is about 30 meters high and its annual celebrations are attended by thousands of people.

Tips for visitors: As the pagoda is built for friendship and peace, red attire and red flowers are prohibited as the color denotes violence.

Tags:Phra That Si Song Rak /Loei/Thailand /Phra That

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaeo: Si Sa Ket

[ photo credit to recmert.kku.ac.th]

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaeo or Wat Lan Khuat is located in the municipality region, the Buddhist temple is remarkable with architectures made from million of colourful glass bottles donated by the people. All the architecture is beautiful, particularly the pavilion called ‘Sala Thansamo Maha Chedi Kaeo’ Ubosoth located mid of the pond. The ubosoth houses a very beautiful white jade Buddha image.

Tags : Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaeo /Si Sa Ket/Thailand /Thai temple

Prasat Khao Noi : Sa kaeo

[ photo credit to www.sakaeo.go.th ]

This Prasat is situated in Wat Khao Noi See Chompoo, Tambon Khlong Nam Sai, which is 12 kilometres to the south of the city. This ancient venue is on the 80 metre hill. With the stairs of 254 steps, this site is composed of three towers (prang). However, only the central one has been remained. It has been registered in year 1935 by the Department of Fine Arts as the national ancient site. Some sandstone lintels and statues were found, and they are now displayed at the Prachin Buri National Museum.

Tags : Prasat Khao Noi /ancient ruins/sanctuary /Thailand

Prasat Hin Ban Phuluang : Surin

[ photo credits to www.surinpao.org ]

Prasat Hin Ban Phuluang is a Hindu sanctuary of Baphuon Period dating back to the 16 th-17th century B.E. between the reigns of Jayavarman I and Jayavarman VI of the ancient Khmer Kindgon. A small sandstone Prang on laterite base, Prasat Hin Ban Phuluang was built and sculpted with fine craftsmanship. The pediment above the entrance depicts a scene of Krishna lifting Govardhana Mountain from the Hindu Story 'Krishnavatar', and incarnation of the God Vishnu. The God Indra on elephant back centers the stone lintel. There is a pond on either side of the walkway to the entrance.

Prasat Hin Ban Phluang is situated at Ban Phluang, Tambon Kang Aen, Amphoe Prasat, 4 kilometers from the Town Hall along the Surin Prasat Chong Chom route with a left turn between kilometer markers 34-35 for another 900 meters.

Tags : Prasat Hin Ban Phuluang /ancient ruins/sanctuary /Thailand

Wat Rajathiwas : Bangkok

Wat Rajathiwas Rajaworavihara is situated on bank of Chao Phraya River, near Tha Wasukri Pier, Samsen. When he was a monk King Rama IV, resided at this temple. It was there that the Dhammayutika sect was born. It is believed to be an ancient temple built before the Ayutthaya Period, and was originally called Wat Samorrai. King Rama V Believed that the word "Samor" was derived from the Khmer word "Thamor", meaning stone. Therefor the temples name meant Wat Silarai. King Rama IV gave the temple its present name of Wat Rajathiwas vihara. The temple is cool and shady as befitting its history as a forest retreat.

In the Fifth Reign the phra ubosot, which has been constructed in the early Rattanakosin Period, was in poor condition. King Rama V therefor ordered Prince Narissaranuwattiwong to reconstruct the phra ubosot but retain the original walls because of the significance of the building in the history of the Dhammayutika sect. The murals were done using the European fresco technique and depicted the story of Phra Vessandara, the Buddha's tenth reincarnation. Prince Narissaranuwattiwong prepared the drafts and Rigole, an Italian artist who painted the ceiling in the dome of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, executed the frescoes.

The sala karn prian, or sermon hall, situated in the front of the temple is constructed entirely of teak and can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Prince Narissaranuwattiwong modelled it on a hall at Wat Suwannaram in Phetchaburi Province.
source: dhammathai.org

Tags : Wat Rajathiwas /Bangkok/Thailand Temple /Thai temple

Wat Thipphayaratnimit : Udon Thani

Wat Thipphayaratnimit is located on Naresuan Road, Tambon Mak Khaeng, off the main road into Soi San Chao Mae Thapthim and opposite to a polytechnic school. It is another forest temple in the area of Amphoe Mueang and has a pleasant shady atmosphere. There is a large pagoda which contains Lord Buddha’s relics. The pagoda is shaped like “Thanan,” a utensil used in ancient times to scoop Lord Buddha’s relics. A portrait of Luang Pu Thira Chitthammo, the present abbot, is displayed with basic living utensils for Buddhist monks in the pavilion. On the fourteenth waxing moon day of the twelfth lunar month, Thot Kathin (robe offering ceremony) and merit making to celebrate the abbot’s birthday anniversary are held every year.

Tags : Wat Thipphayaratnimit /Udon Thani/Thailand /Thai temple

Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram : Phitsanulok

Guan Yin statue

[Photo credit to www.mots.go.th]

Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram Located on Khao Samo Khlaeng, Ban Samo Khlaeng, approximately 14 kilometres from Phitsanulok on Highway 12 and 3 kilometres before reaching Amphoe Wang Thong. The hilltop temple houses two Buddha’s footprints, one is a replica and the other is on the face of a western cliff. A celebration is held annually in February. The temple also houses a thousand-handed Guan Yin statue, three tons in weight, from Hangzhou, China, which was carved out of white jade and sent here in 1992. On the mountain, there is a pond that never runs dry since ancient time. Uphill from the Guan Yin statue, there is a shrine of Heng Jia, the monkey hero, which is frequented by Thai Chinese visitors. The topmost viewpoint of the mountain is the location of Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Bowon Chinarat where the Buddha’s forehead bone relic is enshrined. The Chedi has a lotus-shaped spire, with a walking Buddha image on each side of its square base.

Tags : Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram /Phitsanulok/Thailand /Guan Yin

Wat Pho Sila : Amnat Charoen

[ photo credit to: thai-tour.com]

Wat Pho Sila is situated at Ban Pueai Hua Dong, Tambon Pueai. The temple houses interesting antique, big white sandstone Sema leaves from Dvaravati period which can be dated back to 1,000 years ago.

Built during 7th-8th Century in Khmer style, the sandstone Sema has sharp end, board leave and narrow base carved in lotus shape. Above the carved lotus is pattern of stupa, water pot and bell. Core of the stone leaves are carved with three-ended leave carrying 3 half flowers in three rings lying next to others. Its crest is carved like a flag decorated with lotus’s petal-pattern ornament.

Base of the stone leaves is influenced by lotus’s petal pattern from altar of Buddha image or Dhamma Wheel from Dvaravati found in Central Thailand. Half flowers carved in three connecting rings carry the same pattern found in half flowers found in the arc, of which angels are sitting with hands pressing together towards the mid of lintel which was found at eastern gate of Norhtern stupa, Khao Noi Si Chomphu Khmer Ruins, Amphoe Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province.

Tags: Buddha Image/Wat Pho Sila/thai temple/Amnat Charoen/Wat Thai

Wat Tha Fa Tai : Phayao

Wat Tha Fa Tai is at Mu 11, Ban Fa Si Thong, Sa Sub-district, on the Pong – Chiang Muan Route. It was constructed in 1768 by Khru Thammasena and Phothao Saen-atthi, the leaders of the Thai Lue people who immigrated from Xishuangbanna, People’s Republic of China. The ubosot is low and made of bricks and cement. Its 3-tiered roof is covered with “Paen Klet” or the Thai Lue wooden shingles.

The main Buddha image was engraved of Burma padauk wood in the subduing Mara posture, with a width at its lap of 117.5 centimetres and a height of 227.5 centimetres. It was taken from Xishuangbanna and enshrined on a rectangular Chukkachi base with redented corners, presenting the Thai Lue style of art. The base was decorated with stucco reliefs of vines with black lacquer applied, as well as, covered with gold sheets and adorned with colourful mirrors.

Moreover, there is a sermon pulpit whose characteristic is similar to a mondop or prasat with a square base with 20 redented corners, decorated with stucco reliefs of vines and various kinds of animals such as deer, elephants, horses, and peacocks. The distinctive characteristic is the reflecting floral designs inlaid with colourful mirrors. The wihan is low and reflects the Thai Lue style of art made of bricks and cement. Its 3-tiered roof is covered with wooden shingles. The 1st tier is a hip roof, covering the 4 sides of the wihan, while the 2nd and 3rd tiers are in the Prasat style with gables and eaves on the East and West.

Tags : Wat Tha Fa Tai /Phayao/Thailand /Thai temple

Wat Kanlayanamit : Bangkok

Phra Trairattananayok

This royal temple stands at the mouth of Bangkok Yai Canal on the southern bank. Chao Phraya Nikornbodin (To) donated land to erect this temple in A.D. 1765. Later he presented it to the King. King Rama III named it "Wat Kanlayanamit" and built Wihan which houses a large seated Buddha image named "Phra Trairattananayok" similar to the large Buddha image outside the walls of Ayutthya at Wat Phananchoeng.

King Rama IV built the library near the landing of Krom Somdej Phra Sri Sudarakse in A.D. 1865.

During the reign of King Rama V there was a renovation of this temple by Chao Phraya Rattanabodin (Rod) who was the son of Chao Phraya Nikornbodin.
[source: http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/7153]

Tags : Wat Kanlayanamit /Bangkok/Thailand Temple /Thai temple