Wednesday 29 January 2025
Temples I see often and seldom visit

On Ratchamanka Road is Wat Pha Khao, a temple I pass often and have seldom felt compelled to enter and explore. Here is the sign on the corner with very sexy-looking angels in the carving.

Inside, there is a coffee shop by the entrance, and further in, a viharn and chedi. There are always several people and monks here, so this is a fairly busy temple.

Here is a photo of the entrance to the viharn under a covered porch and the side of the viharn. This is clearly in the Lanna style, with a multi-tiered roof sweeping low on the sides.

Behind the viharn is a chedi, all clad in shiny gold metal, my least favorite style. Apparently, this style is favored by the modern temple leadership, because it is seen at many temples in Chiang Mai.

I continued on my way to Story 106. I change the route I take often and pass different temples depending on the route. Today I walked through the sois parallel to Loi Kroh Road and came to Wat Loi Kroh.

Wat Loi Kroh

While the look and style of Wat Loi Kroh are artistic and colorful, I am not that drawn to the temple. I do appreciate its artistry. This temple also has a few monks or people, so it is a busy temple. The entrance sign is all Thai.

There is a very stylish viharn (assembly hall).

The actual entrance is colorful, and the inside is quite nice in the typical gold and red motif.

To the right of the viharn entrance is another pavilion that at first looks like it might be an ubosot (ordination hall), but there is no interior that I saw, just a seated Buddha statue. The steps are crowded, suggesting that they are not to be used. The Naga serpent creatures protecting the stairs are nice.

Instead of behind the viharn, the chedi is further to the right of the viharn. This is another chedi mostly clad in gold metal. I do like the base and the standing Buddha image.

Leaving from the back entrance, I passed a very nice depiction of Phra Mae Thorani, Mother Earth. This is nice in its elegant simplicity.

With only one week left until I start the journey home, there is much to do. I have been in Thailand for 11 of 12 weeks. Perhaps next winter I’ll extend that to a full 90 days.

Next: A new adventure!