Wat Pho Temple, Sanam Chai Road, Bangkok, Thailand ( 10 )
Wat Pho, the official name being Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn, is the first grade royal monastery, regarded as the most important one during the reign of King Rama 1 of the Chakri Dynasty. The importance of this is due to the King having managed the restoration of Wat Phodharam, and old monastery from the Ayudhya period, and had it re-established as a royal monastery located near the Grand Place. Some ashes of King Rama 1 were also kept under the pedestal of the principal Buddha image known as Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn in the main Chapel. The Monastery is located on an area of 20 acres to the south of the Grand Palace, with Thai Wang road in the north, Sanam Chai road in the east, Setthaken road in the south and Maharat road in the west. Separated by a tall white wall on Chetuphon road, the monastery has two main quarters : the sacred ( or chapel section, Buddhavas ) and the residential ( or the monk's living section, Sangghavas ).
It is said in a stone inscription that, after moving to the Grand Place, King Phra Buddha Yod Fa, the Great ( King Rama 1 ) recognized that there were two old temples along both sides of the Grand Palace, Wat Salak ( Wat Mahatat ) in the north and Wat Phodharam in the south. He ordered his noblemen from the department of the Ten Crafts to restore Wat Phodharam in 1788. This first restoration took seven years five months and 28 days. Then there was a celebration in 1801 and the King named it Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklavas, which was changed to Wat Phra Chetuhon Vimolmangklararm during the reign of King Rama 1 V. The great restoration, having taken 16 years and seven months, was done during the reign of King Rama III, by extending both the south Vihara and west Vihara where the large reclining Buddha image is kept, the Missakawan Park, Phra Mondob ( Library Hall ) and teaching - learning hall as they are today.
Although there was another restoration before the Bangkok Bicentennial Celebrations in 1982, no more other major work has been done on the monastery, except for some minor repairs. Wat Pho is an important landmark in the Ko Rattanakosin area. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Buddhist fine arts and the existing Thai intellect which has descended from ancient times, taken as immortal careers knowledge. The monastery is open daily from 08.00 to 18.00 hours with admission fee of 50 Baht.
The Sheltered Gate, you will see the crown like spire decorated with multi coloured mosaic flowers winding down. These flowers were made from colourful Chinese ceramic bowls cut into petals.This ceramic flower decoration can be found on all over parts of this monastery, and it is said that this design and architecture specially pleased King Rama III. There are 16 sheltered gates to enter the sacred quarter. Passing through any of the sheltered gates and then looking back you will see Lan Than Nai Tvarapala, Chinese rock giants holding weapons in their hands, standing up on both Sides as the gate guardians. The Chinese rock giants and other Chinese rockeries are found in many places around the Temple.
Phra Uposatha ( or the Main Chapel ) The 2nd Buddhist architecture is called Phra Phra Uposatha ( the Main Chapel or Bor or the assembly Hall - a hall used for performing the monastic ritual ) For Buddhist, the main chapel is the heart of the monastery, as without it, it would be a monk centre and not a monastery. The main chapel was constructed in the reign of King Rama I in Ayudhya style. It was then constructed And enlarged during the reign of King Rama III. All sheltered windows and doors are made of hard wood with crown like spires and colour glazed tiles. Inlays of mother of pearl on the outer side of the entrance door panels depict episodes from the Ramakien ( the Thai version of the Ramayana the world famous Indian epic ) while on the inner side are painted specimens of ecclesiastical fans of rank which are presented to the monk sovereigns. The principal Buddha image is Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn in a gesture of seated Buddha on a three tiered pedestal called Phra Pang Smadhi ( Lord Buddha in the posture of concentration ) and some ashes of King Rama I are kept under the pedestal.
The mural paintings in the hall depict Mahosatha Pandita ( The Great Bachelor of Mathila City ). The heavens and Phra Etadagga - a disciple. On the middle tier there are two images of the Original disciples, while the eight effigies of the Holy Priests stand on the lowest pedestal. Inside panels of the windows are decorated with lacquer work of the seals of this monastery dignitaries ( in the reign of King Rama III )
Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Korat, Issan, Wat Sala Loi Temple, Thailand. ( 31 )
Wat Sala Loi Temple situated in the North East part of the old town. It was built by Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. It received the Siam Architects society award for the best Avant Garde religious building in 1973 ( Avant Garde meaning favouring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas, it originates from the french language ). The highlight of this temple is the meeting hall which is built in the style of a Thai boat riding the waves.
The hall is decorated with local Dan Kwian clay tiles and depicts the life of Buddha along the walls. The huge door is made from metal. Inside the hall is a large Buddha statue. In front of the door is a sculpture of Thao Suranari sitting praying in the middle of a pond, besides the building is a small pagoda that contains the ashes of her. The temple can be found about 500 metres from the Rop Mueang road.
So much was going on the day I attended here. Stalls were selling all kinds of things for anyone that wanted to offer prayers. Some stalls were selling food. The car park here was so full it was not easy finding a parking space. One thing that surprised me was, as I was taking videos and photos of all around the grounds a policeman stood to attention and saluted me and smiled. I thought it was a really nice gesture in this friendly city.
In the grounds is a large pond with a bridge over it many people used this vantage point to get the really nice pictures of this beautiful Temple. Near to this pond a very large gong prompted people to ring it when passing. It surely is an unusual and beautifully designed Temple, not big by many temples but non the less worth a visit.
The province is located on the western end of the Korat Plateau, separated from the Chao Phraya river valley by the Phetchabun and Dong Phaya Yen mountain ranges. Two national parks are in the province - the Khao Yai in the west and the Thap Lan in the south. Both parks are in the forested mountains of the Sankamphaeng Range, the southern prolongation of the Dong Phaya Yen mountains. Nakhon Ratchasima, or Korat, is a large province on the north eastern plateau and acts as a gateway to other provinces in the Northeast. It is 259 kilometres ( 161 miles ) from Bangkok and has an area of around 20,494 square kilometres (7,913 sq mi), making it the biggest Thai province. The province is rich in Khmer culture and has a long history.
The area around Khorat was already an important centre in the times of the Khmer empire in the 11th century, as can be seen by the temple ruins in the Phimai historical park. Still, Nakhon Ratchasima Province is one province where there is a sizable Northern Khmer population. A new walled city with a surrounding moat, designated as Nakhon Ratchasima, was built in the seventeenth century by order of the King Narai, as the easternmost command post, guarding the Kingdom's border and supervising its Lao and Cambodian vassals. It continued this duty during the Bangkok Period, although it was seized by deceit during Chao Anuwong of Vientiane's 1826 revolt against the King Rama III of Siam.
Nakhon Ratchasima has long been the most important political and economic centre in the northeastern region. In the late nineteenth century, the railroad reached Khorat became the junction of two main rail lines in the Northeastern, Issan, region. In 1933 it was the stronghold of the royalist troops in the Boworadej Revolt, as they fought the new democratic government in Bangkok. In the 1950's, the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was built in Nakhon Ratchasima; from 1961 until 26 February 1976, this facility was also used as a base by the United States Air Force.
A monument to Thao Suranaree ( real name: Khun Ying Mo; 1771–1852 ) is situated in front of the old Prau Chumpon gate. Also called The Great Heroine of Khorat, Kun Ying Mo was the wife of the Deputy Governor of Khorat during the reign of King Rama III. In 1826, Khun Ying Mo managed to save the city from an invasion by the Laotian army led by Prince Anouvong of Vientiane. King Rama III conferred the title of Thao Suranaree on Khun Ying Mo, as well as additional ones honouring her bravery.
Roads Highway 2 ( Mittraphap Road ) is the main route that connects 9 districts in Nakhon Ratchasima including Muang district. This route also connects Nakhon Ratchasima to Saraburi and Khon Kaen provinces. As, Highway No. 24 links Si Khio district from the Highway 2 to Pak Thongcha, Chok Chai and Nong Bunnak districts and to Buriram province.
Rail systems The railway system in Nakhon Ratchasima is on both north-eastern routes from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong central terminal. Nakhon Ratchasima has 8 main railway stations.