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Wat Nong Pa Phong - |
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วัดหนองป่าพง |
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Address: |
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Known as: |
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Wat Pah Nanachat |
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Description: |
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Wat Nong Pa Phong is located in Ban Phong Sawang, Non Phueng
Sub-district, Warin Chamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
It is a shady and peaceful temple, which is suitable for
studying Buddha’s teaching and doing meditation. Besides, Wat
Nong Pa Phong is the prototype of over 100 forest temples in
Thailand and many of them abroad.
March 8, 1954 is the
beginning of Wat Nong Pa Phong when Phra Photiyan Thera (Cha
Suphattho), along with some of his disciples, made a pilgrimage
at “Dong Pa Phong.” After that, they settled 5-6 long-handled
umbrellas all over the edge of the forest. Dong Pa Phong at that
time was a deserted thick forest. In the heart of the temple,
there was a large swamp with thick clumps of Phong tree.
Therefore, the villagers called the forests around here as “Nong
Pa Phong.” In the beginning, Luang Pu Cha and his disciples had
to struggle bravely with malaria fever. When one got ill, it was
very difficult to find the medicines. They had to cook and eat
Boraphet (Tinospora cordifolia) or do something as best as they
could, without asking for any helps from their supporters. The
villagers who saw this became to have faith in these monks;
therefore, they built some necessary buildings together, such as
accommodation for those who practiced Dharma, monk’s cell,
pavilion, canteen, belfry, and other buildings, making the
temple became complete.
There are many interesting
constructions inside the temple, such as the ordination hall,
which is different from other normal ones since there are no
walls, doors, windows, patterned decorations. The second one is
Chedi of Phra Photiyan Thera which is an architecture with the
combination of northeast region and Lan Chang. It was built as a
place for keeping the relics of Luang Pu Cha. The next
construction is belfry, which is located northward of the
canteen. Its wall is decorated with stucco paintings of the
Buddha’s story and animals that live naturally in the forest in
Wat Nong Pa Phong. Finally, the museum of Phra Photiyan Thera,
which is a three-storied building in applied Thai style. There
is a showcase displaying human skeleton on the first floor. The
second floor presents traditional tools and equipment. And the
third floor is where the waxwork of Luang Pu Cha, sitting on a
rattan chair, is housed. Luang Pu Cha’s eight necessities are
also displayed in this floor. |
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Province |
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Ubon Ratchathani |
Direction: |
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District |
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Warin Chamrap |
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City |
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Non Phueng |
Comments: |
The International Forest Monastery |
Official Web: |
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Genre |
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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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15.15953 N |
104.83006 E |
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