Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol Nong Phok, Roi Et, Thailand ( 7 )
Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol. Nong Phok, Roi Et
The Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol or the Great, Victorious and Auspicious Pagoda is one of the largest Chedi's ( pagoda ) in Thailand. It is located on the grounds of the Wat Pha Namthip Thep Prasit Vararam, a temple complex in Roi Et province in rural North Eastern Thailand. This huge chedi is 101 metres long, 101 metres wide and 101 metres high and was built on a plot measuring 101 Rai, which is about 40 acres. The number 101 comes from the name of the province it is located in, Roi Et, which means 101 in Thai.
The Chedi, which is also known as Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon is highly revered in Roi Et province, since relics of the Buddha are contained in the top of the pagoda. The fairly new chedi was designed by the Department of Fine Arts, and was built to serve as a centre of learning for Buddhist monks. The very elegantly shaped chedi is painted in white colour and very elaborately decorated in golden coloured artwork in modern style. Surrounding the chedi are eight smaller pagodas. The finial on top of the chedi is made of 60 kilos of pure gold.
The chedi and temple are located on top of Nam Yoi cliff, from where you will have a wonderful view of the surrounding rural area.
The interior of the Chedi
The first floor is used for meetings and conferences. The names of the people who donated for the construction of the chedi are engraved in the wall
The second floor is beautifully decorated with murals, showing scenes from the life of the Buddha
The third floor is used as an ubosot or ordination hall. The marble images of 101 highly revered monks are displayed here
The fourth floor is a museum, where you can learn about the abbot of the temple
The fifth floor contains a staircase to the hall where the relics of the Buddha are enshrined
How to get to Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol; ~
The Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol in the Wat Pha Namthip Thep Prasit Vararam temple complex is located in Nong Phok district, some 80 kilometres from Roi Et town.
Getting to the chedi by public transportation from Roi Et town could be a hassle, by far the most convenient and comfortable option is to hire an air conditioned car with driver to take you there. Most hotels will be able to arrange one for you. Agree on the price before leaving.
Admission & opening hours
The Chedi is open daily from 6 am until 5 pm. Entrance fee is 20 Baht per person
Samut Prakan Province, Wat Asokaram, Monastery of no sorrow, Samut Prakan, Thailand. (10 )
Samut Prakan is one of the central provinces of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Samut Prakan, Changwat Nonthaburi, Changwat Samut Sakhon and Changwat Nakhon Nayok, Buddhist Era 2489 ( 1946 ), which came into force as from 9 March 1946. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighbouring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao to the east. Suvarnabhumi Airport (or also called New Bangkok International Airport) is located in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province.
The province was created during the Ayutthaya period, with its administrative centre located at Phra Pradaeng. It was the sea port of Siam, and was secured with forts, town moats and town-walls. King Rama II started the building of the new centre at Samut Prakan in 1819, after his predecessor King Taksin had disbanded the town fortification. Altogether six forts were built on both sides of the Chao Phraya river, and on an island in the river the pagoda Phra Samut Chedi was erected. These were involved in the Paknam incident of 13 July 1893, which ended the Franco-Siamese War with the French naval blockade of Bangkok. Of the original six forts only two exist today, Phi Sua Samut and Phra Chulachomklao.
In Thai the word Samut is from Sanskrit, samudra, meaning ocean or sea, and the word Prakan is from Sanskrit, prākāra, meaning fortress, walls or stronghold.
The provincial seal shows the temple Phra Samut Chedi, the most important site of Buddhist worship in the province. Provincial tree is Thespesia populnea. The provincial slogan is Marine Battle Fortresses, Chedi in the Water, Crocodile Farm, Exquisite Ancient City, Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Tasty Dried Snakeskin Gourami, Rap Bua Festival, Industrial Estate.
Samut Prakan is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya river to the Gulf of Thailand. Thus the province is also sometimes called Pak Nam the Thai word for the mouth of a river. The part of the province located on the western side of the river consist mostly of rice and prawn fields as well as mangrove forests, while the east part is the urban centre - including industrial factories. It is part of the Bangkok metropolis, the urbanization on both sides of the provincial boundary is identical. The province has a coastline of about 47.2 kilometres. Bang Pu Nature Reserve, about 12 km east of the town centre, has a large bird population. Especially during the winter the Sakdi pier at Bang Pu is very popular for Thai people feeding the wintering seagulls. The park is run jointly by the Royal Thai Army and the Thai WWF, and was officially established at the 72nd birthday of Queen Sirikit in 2004.
Monastery of no sorrow, Soi Sukhaphiban 58, Tambon Thai Ban, Sukhumvit Road, Samut Prakan 10280. Located 32 km south of Bangkok off Highway 3. Many city buses in Bangkok ( including air conditioned 7 and 8, and non-air conditioned 25, 142, 145 ) go to Samut Prakan; from here you can take either of two local buses or a taxi six km farther to the temple.
Some buses between Bangkok's Eastern ( Ekkamai ) Bus Terminal and Chonburi go via Samut Prakan; ask to be let off at Wat Asokaram ( between KM 31 and 32 posts on Highway 3 ), then walk or take a samlor about one km south. You can see the spires and multi tiered roof of the viharn from the highway. Telephone : 0-2395-0003
As one of the province's major temples, it has many spots of interest such as Phra Thutangkhachedi ( Dhutangachedi ) which is a complex of 13 Chedi's, and Wihan Wisuthithammarangsi, a three storey building with four porches and a superstructure in the form of a Mondop.
Anapanasati is the main technique taught, though mediators are free to choose their own techniques
Discourses are given each evening. ( Meditation practice receives much emphasis in the Dhamma talks.) Teachers are available for questions.
Teachers Ajahn Tong ( Phra Khru Suvandhamma chote ), abbot senior monks assistant Phra Ajahn Bunku Anuvathano speaks good English . A few monks can speak English; the abbot does not.
A temple built in ancient India by Emperor Asoka inspired the name of Wat Asokaram. Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo ( 1906-1961), a disciple of Ajahn Mun, founded the temple in 1955. At the request of lay followers, the un cremated remains of Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo have been kept in a coffin in the glassed in shrine area upstairs in the Viharn. A ceremony dedicated to the former abbot attracts many people to the Wat on 24-26 April; teachers present discourses on mind training in the Ajahn Mun tradition.