SiamWorld.com - Individual Thailand Tours

17/10/2020

The small village Temple Wat Mae Surin in Mae Hong Son's Khun Yuam District.

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17/10/2020

Drone view of the jungle covered mountains around Mae Hong Son in Thailand's Northwest.

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17/10/2020

Drone view of Mae Hong Son's Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mu Temple

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17/10/2020

17/10/2020

Drone view of Wat Luang in Pai at Mae Hong Son.

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22/09/2020

The "Floating Pagodas - Thailand's best kept secret

Chalerm Phrakiat Temple ( Pu Pha Dang Temple), also known as the "Floating Pagodas Temple", is located in Chae  Hom District, Lampang. Morning time is ideal for visiting this unique temple, considering the steep climb on the metal stairs case for 800 meters up to the top of the lime stone mountain.

Hanging like baubles atop a Christmas tree of limestone karst, Thailand’s floating pagodas are easily among the world’s most spectacular temples. But I bet you’ve never heard of them. Located near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat looks like the handiwork of a photoshop whiz up to mischief. But these mystical pagodas in the sky are real. The temple complex in Lampang Province comprises a golden pagoda, prayer hall and clutch of white stupas, clinging vertiginously to limestone pinnacles almost a kilometre above the valley floor. Few foreigners venture this far off the beaten path, but that’s about to change with Flight Centre listing the site among its top 50 travel experiences for 2020.

Quite recently, really. Unlike most of the world’s iconic religious monuments, Wat Chaloem was built this century. Led by a local monk, a team of 50 Buddhist worshippers painstakingly assembled the temple, lugging materials up the mountain piece by piece. It took them two years to complete. The result is a surreal symbol of Buddhist devotion that’s as close to Nirvana as most of us are ever likely to get.

There is the legend  giants who lived in this area. They hunted  and killed all life, both animals and humans and ate them. Lord Buddha had intervened and taught them to stop sinning. The giants asked in exchange to name a temple after their names. This is how the name “ Pu Pha Dang Temple” originates from.

Thailand’s floating Pagodas Temple is still relatively unknown, but the secret is out, and now’s the time to see this unique and fascinating place before the masses ascend.

22/09/2020

Drone view of Wat Phrathat Doi Kam in Chiang Mai. With permission of the Abbot.

22/09/2020

Wat Hong Thong Temple

Wat Hong Thong, also known as Wat Klang Nam, is located in a mangrove forest area, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao. The temple has walkways connecting the shore with the stupa of Phrathat Khongkha Mahachedi Pricha Prapakon Prat Soranin Anusorn and Ubosot, the main hall, both of which are situated in the sea. The whole structure of the chedi has five levels with paintings concerning Buddhism and Thai kings, and several Buddha images hosted inside. On the highest level stands a golden stupa containing Arhats' relics. From this level, visitors can overlook the sea as well as the shore. Additionally, while walking along the main walkway, you will see signs with morals written on them from which you can read and learn something. In addition, in the halfway point of the walkway stand sculptures of Phra Aphai Mani, Nang Phi Sua Samut, and other literary characters with a wooden walkway around the sculptures for visitors to have a closer look at them. On the first level of the Phrathat Khongkha Mahachedi, a replica of the Buddha image of Luang Phor Sothorn together with several other Buddha images is hosted for visitors to pay their respect to. In addition, the temple holds Tak Bat Phra Roi, a ceremony of almsgiving by putting coins into alms bowls in front of hundreds of Buddha images. The temple also provides a coin exchange booth. On the second floor is a wax replica of Luang Pu Sot, also known as Phra Mongkhon Thepmuni (Sot Chanthasaro) of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen with a replica of the Emerald Buddha hosted nearby. Moreover, there are paintings of both former and current Thai Kings, and of the members of the royal family. Also from the second level, you can get good views of the sea. If you look out to the sea during high tide, you will feel like the building is floating on the water.