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Wat Thai Watthanaram - |
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วัดไทยวัฒนาราม |
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Wat Thai Wattanaram is an unusual Mayahana Buddhist temple built
in the 1850s by members of the Thai Yai ethnic group from Burma
-- hence it’s alternate name. A bunch of quirky features join
several stunning Buddha images to make this large Burmese-style
temple worth the side trip.
You’re first met by shiny
lion guardian statues that appear to have been crafted from many
pieces of brass, followed by a miniature (but still quite large)
replica of Shwedagon Pagoda and a graceful Shan-style chedi.
Also check out the red-eyed chicken riding another chicken in
front of an eye-catching building enwrapped in golden vine
designs.
Inside the building topped by the Shwedagon
replica sits a large marble Buddha that resembles the revered
Buddha image of Wat Don Kaeo up in Mae Ramat. A neighbouring
wihaan houses an exquisite bronze replica of Mahamuni, an
extremely sacred Buddha image housed in Mandalay that features
an ornate crown and regalia.
Next-door sits an airy hall
with high ceilings and multiple white Buddha images striking
various postures, topped by smaller ancient Buddha images placed
in the niches. Check out the psychedelic reflections of the
Buddha’s faces in the swirling mirror-like decoration that
covers the walls.
Stretched out almost as an afterthought
in the far back corner of the complex is a roughly 60-metre-long
Burmese-style reclining Buddha.
The highlight for us was
another large room centred around a bizarre display of Buddha
and friends whizzing towards a huge three-dimensional map of
Southern Asia, complete with a Buddha and guardian circling the
perimeter on a motorised track. The whole spectacle felt like a
Buddhist version of the “It’s a Small World After All” ride at
Disney World.
We arrived to find a saffron-robed monk
trying to toss coins into a pair of spinning bowls, like a game
out of a county fair. You’ll also find dozens of vivid Thai
Yai-style murals adorning the inner walls.
Overall we
felt that Wat Thai Yai was well worth the effort to reach: If
you can only make it to one temple in the area, this should be
it. With more time you could stop here on the way to the
balancing cliff-side chedi of Wat Phra That Hin Kio, which
overlooks Burma and the Moei River valley some 15 kilometres
north of the Asia Highway.
How to get there Wat Thai
Wattanaram is located just off the north side of Asia Highway,
about two kilometres east of the border. Head north at a traffic
light on Mit Maitree Rd and then take an immediate right through
the temple gate and the entrance will be on the left. If this
gate is locked, keep north on Mit Maitree and look for a second
gate on the right, just beyond a small cluster of food vendors.
Wat Thai Wattanaram (Wat Thai Yai) Between Mae Sot
airport and the border. Daily 08:00-17:00. |
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District |
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Mae Sot |
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City |
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Tha Sai Luat |
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Official Web: |
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Temple |
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Opening time |
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N/A |
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Entry fee |
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Free |
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GPS : |
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16.69810 N |
98.528089 E |
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