Sunday, January 20, 2019
Four Local, Neighborhood Temples, Part 4

Wat Pan On

Wat Pan On is what I call a “neighborhood” temple, smaller, and less frequented by tourists. It is an older temple, having been built in 1501 according to records. Wat Pan On is on Rachadamnoen Road near Tha Phae Gate (the eastern gate) in the Chiang Mai old city, one of the major streets closed each Sunday afternoon and evening for the weekly Sunday Night Market. The courtyards of this and other temples along the Sunday Night Market become food courts, while vendors selling everything else set up in the street. Being on a very busy street, Wat Pan On does get its share of tourists, but not nearly as many as Wat Chedi Luang or Wat Phra Singh, the two busiest temples in Chiang Mai.

Wat Pan On is a simple temple, as are many of the local or neighborhood temples, with only a large viharn (worship or assembly hall), a golden chedi, and a kuti (monks living quarters). It is said that the golden chedi is one of the most beautiful in all of Chiang Mai, and while striking, I prefer the older chedis at Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Lok Molee. The golden chedi at Wat Pan On is very recent, having been built just 11 years ago in 2007.  The chedi was named the Sareerikkatartsirirak Pagoda by the King of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX, now deceased). The chedi contains red niches on all of its four sides in which Buddha images are enshrined. Next to the chedi is a very large gong.

Here is the golden chedi at Wat Pan On; it does look very new:

Golden chedi at Wat Pan On

Another view with the gong in the foreground, and one of the red niches with the Buddha statue.

Golden chedi at Wat Pan On with the gong in the foreground

A closer look at one of the red niches with the Buddha statue:

And there is a plaque commemorating King Rama IX having named the chedi:

I did not get a view of the whole viharn. Here is the entrance looking less elaborate than many viharn entrances:

Entrance to the viharn at Wat Pan On

Inside the viharn the decoration is more elaborate. The columns are quite intricate in contrast to very plain columns in many temples:

Inside the viharn (worship hall) at Wat Pan On

A closer view of the alter with the large sitting Buddha image in the subduing Mara posture. It is said to be a copy of the famous Phra Chinnarat Buddha of the Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat temple in Phitsanulok (a city near Sukhothai, about 350 kilometers south of Chiang Mai).

Large seated Buddha statue in the viharn at Wat Pan On

And I always find the array of Buddha statues interesting at many temples. This one has a different look than most gold statues, appearing to be gradually being covered in gold leaf:

It was interesting exploring the local temples that i have walked by many times. Another very good day in Chiang Mai.

Next: A second hike up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep with yoga friends