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Lamphun - Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha

Photo Gallery of Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha, Northern Thailand.
(Lamphun is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and is well-known as the first royal city of Northern Thailand. It was called "Haripunchai" and flourished for a long time. The town is very peaceful, situated along Kuang River (tributary of Ping River), about 30 kilometers and about 30 minutes by car from Chiang Mai, the major city in northern part.)

A chedi and other halls of Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha on a hill.

Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha is located in Pa Sang, about 14 kilometers in the southwest of Lamphun city. It's a unique temple with a vast ground and a chedi called Phrathat Chedi Si Khruba on a hill from where you can look over Lamphun. Fantastic !

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If you understand Thai language, you can imagine what kind of temple this is. (Wat: temple, Phuttabat: Buddha's footprint, Tak Pha: dry clothes in the sun)
According to the explanation of this temple, Lord Buddha once stayed here and dried his outer robe on the nearby cliff. The trace of a likeness of a monk's saffron robe can be found there as well as a footprint of the Buddha on the temple ground.

Beautiful mural paintings adorn the interior of the temple, while the outer environ is lush and peaceful. Every year on the 8th day of 6th month on the lunar calendar - believed to be Lord Buddha's cremation date, the temple holds an annual Bathing Ceremony to mark the auspicious occasion.
(Well, .. is this different from Songkran festival ? This ceremony is also held actively at the famous temple in Lamphun, Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai.)

* About the 8th day of 6th month
The day is believed, maybe only in Thailand, as the day of Buddha's cremation. From the explanation of Wiki - Public holidays in Thailand, the date is explained as follows:

Atthami Puja (Wan Atthami Bucha
8th waning moon, 6th Thai lunar month (May - June)
Buddhist observance commemorating the Buddha's cremation.

Now, let's visit the temple with me. Wow wow.

The main hall
Very wide temple ground
The Chedi on the hill

[Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha] The main hall

This is the main hall. I noticed later but the front entrance was on the right.

Another view from the temple ground. The building has the same shapes in each of four directions.	Beautiful decoration above the door. Flowers and tigers ?
Another view from the temple ground. The building has the same shapes in each of four directions.	Beautiful decoration above the door. Flowers and tigers ?

This is explained as "Beautiful mural paintings adorn the interior of the temple". Colorful and splendid.	This is explained as "Beautiful mural paintings adorn the interior of the temple". Colorful and splendid.
This is explained as "Beautiful mural paintings adorn the interior of the temple". Colorful and splendid.
Legend has it that Lord Buddha once stayed here and left a footprint on the temple ground.
Inside the temple, you'll see big foot prints of Lord Buddha at the bottom of three stairs. Legend has it that Lord Buddha once stayed here and left a footprint on the temple ground.
A Buddha image enshrined.	Ceiling decorated with hexagon patterns.
A Buddha image enshrined.	Ceiling decorated with hexagon patterns.
When you look at the hill, you'll see a chedi on it. You can walk and visit there straight to it from here. :D	Opposite side in the left picture.
When you look at the hill, you'll see a chedi on it. You can walk and visit there straight to it from here. :D	Opposite side in the left picture. This is a front entrance.

Decoration above doors. Peacock or phoenix ?	Monks. There clothes is no in orange but in kind of red, bordeaux.	You'll see this kind of elephant in Thai temples. If you can lift it up with your little finger (or ring finger if you are female), your wish will come true.
Decoration above doors. Peacock or phoenix ?	Monks. There clothes is no in orange but in kind of red, bordeaux.	You'll see this kind of elephant in Thai temples. If you can lift it up with your little finger (or ring finger if you are female), your wish will come true.

A view from the temple ground. There is a big tree near the main hall.
A view from the temple ground. There is a big tree near the main hall. You'll realize how big the tree is when you get closer to it.

[Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha] Very wide temple ground

After visiting the main hall, let's walk around the very wide temple ground.

This path will take you to the chedi on the hill. Try and walk ?! :D

Very wide temple ground. A view from the tree close to the main hall.	A big bell !
Very wide temple ground. A view from the tree close to the main hall.	A big bell !

A hall housing Buddha statue crafted from 1000 years old Takientong wood.	A little plump figure.	You might see this kind of architectural structure in Thailand.
A hall housing Buddha statue crafted from 1000 years old Takientong wood.	A Buddha image enshrined a small hall, a little plum figure.	You might see this kind of architectural structure in Thailand. For a high-ranking person ?

A small cave. Buddha statues are enshrined in there.	A small cave. Buddha statues are enshrined in there.
A small cave. Buddha statues are enshrined in there.

A Buddha statue wearing a leopard pattern clothes. Hmm, why leopard ?	A small tiger in the back !	The ceiling is very low around the corner.
A Buddha statue wearing a leopard pattern clothes. Hmm, why leopard ?	A small tiger in the back !	The ceiling is very low around the corner.

This is the place where Lord Buddha dried his outer robe.	A view of the temple ground.
This is the place where Lord Buddha dried his outer robe.	A view of the temple ground.
Another great hall here.	There is an interesting ceramic figure in Haripunchai national museum, an imaginary animal called Kod-Cha-Si which has a lion's body and elephant's trunk. This is it and looks cool !
Another great hall here.	There is an interesting ceramic figure in Haripunchai national museum, an imaginary animal called Kod-Cha-Si which has a lion's body and elephant's trunk. This is it and looks cool !

The side of the hall.	A school for monks ?	A very big tree close to the main hall inside the temple ground.
The side of the hall.	A school for monks ?	A very big tree close to the main hall inside the temple ground.

Around the gate in the direction of the hill. There are dolls that show a life of human being. You can not see in this picture but after getting old, the doll is like a mummy.
Around the gate in the direction of the hill. There are dolls that show a life of human being. You can not see in this picture but after getting old, the doll is like a mummy.
The gate of the temple in the direction of the hill. If you are confident in physical strength, try and walk to the top of the hill !
The gate of the temple in the direction of the hill. If you are confident in physical strength, try and walk to the top of the hill !

[Wat Phra Phuttabat Tak Pha] The Chedi on the hill

Now, let's go on the top of the hill to visit a chedi called Phrathat Chedi Si Khruba which means four monks. Hmmm, I'm really interested in what kind of place it is.

You have to walk up this long long stairs from the bottom to the top. The reddish building around the top center is the main hall we were a while ago. Wow, it got really small !

Guardians like like a devil protect the entrance.	Is this Yak you see often in Thailand such as in Grand Palace in Bangkok ?	Is this a tiger ?
Guardians on the hill Guardians like like a devil protect the entrance. Is this Yak you see often in Thailand such as in Grand Palace in Bangkok ?

You can come here by car In fact, I came here by car ! :D If you drive here, you'll come to the back of the area. After getting off and walk up the path in the picture, you'll reach the chedi place in a moment.
By car ! You can come here by car In fact, I came here by car ! :D If you drive here, you'll come to the back of the area. After getting off and walk up the path in the picture, you'll reach the chedi place in a moment. If it's a fine day, you'll get really tired walking in the strong sunshine If you are worried about walking, it's better for you to come here by car.
The chedi ground.	You can look over Lamphun city !
A spacious place You can look over Lamphun city. The view is fantastic because it's on the top of the hill.

On the hill. The center is the chedi called Phrathat Chedi Si Khruba and you'll see other buildings around there.
Phrathat Chedi Si Khruba On the hill. The center is the chedi called Phrathat Chedi Si Khruba and you'll see other buildings around there.
The building is wonderful. A stately chedi.	The building is wonderful. A stately chedi.
The building is wonderful. A stately chedi.

Inside the chedi, four monk statues are enshrined in the center. Each of them faces to each entrance. This structure is similar to Jaturamuk style of Wat Phumin in Nan.
Inside the chedi, four monk statues are enshrined in the center. Each of them faces to each entrance. This structure is similar to Jaturamuk style of Wat Phumin in Nan.
The monk enshrined in the Chedi	Buddha statues protect the monks.
The monk enshrined in the Chedi	Buddha statues Buddha statues protect the monks.

Inside is decorated with Buddhist paintings.	The ceiling is simple and white.	Buddha statue outside. Made with a combination of stone pieces ?
Inside is decorated with Buddhist paintings.	The ceiling is simple and white.	Buddha statue outside. Made with a combination of stone pieces ?

A monk image is enshrined in another hall.	King Kawila who renovate Lamphun (or Hariphunchai) and his brother Prince Boonma. This pavilion was constructed by the descendants of King Kawila and his warriors.
A monk image is enshrined in another hall.	King Kawila who renovate Lamphun (or Hariphunchai) and his brother Prince Boonma. This pavilion was constructed by the descendants of King Kawila and his warriors.

Another monk statue in the back.	I saw some cats.	I saw some cats.
Another monk statue in the back.	I saw some cats.

The drive way between the hill and the main hall. Take care ! :D
The drive way between the hill and the main hall. Take care ! :D

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