Wat Phra Singh
Within the walls of the ancient city
are several old temples of interest. Among them, Wat
Pra Sing is perhaps the largest and most interesting,
although it may not seem so at first glance. Upon entering
the main gate, you're greeted by a large and dusty parking
area. Across the lot is a large ubosot with an intricately
carved front. This is your first clue that there's more
here than there might appear.
The alter at right is the one inside the main bot. Its
beautiful, though rather standard for Thai temples these
days. We were somewhat amused by the plethora of "account
books" strewn about on the right side of the alter
(behind the columns in the picture we're afraid). In
any temple that gets visitors, there is almost always
a donation box with a guest book for you to write your
name and amount donated in. Well, in this temple there
were at least half a dozen boxes, each with a different
purpose -- maintenance of the temple building, electricity,
taxes, etc. -- and so each with its own account book.
Upon making a donation to one or more purpose, you then
have to scrabble around for the proper book to write
it down in.
As you face the ubosot, to your right is a small elaborate
ho trai built on a high stone base. The base has many
beautiful carvings which have recently been renovated.
Continuing on around the complex in a counter-clockwise
direction, you'll find a drum tower set in a yard shaded
by many old trees. Sometimes there's an artist or two
at work here, and selling their work of course.
Directly behind the main ubosot is a large whitewashed
chedi. Next to it is a small but very ornate Wiharn
which is worth a closer look. The outside is decorated
in gold and ochre in a style which is ornate but without
the gaudiness of many other temples.
The decoration inside is also quite rich. There is a
brocade-like gold and red pattern on parts of the roof
and back wall behind the alter. On the alter here (and
not on the alter of the main bot) sits the Pra Sing
from which the temple takes its name. "Pra"
is Thai for a priest or cleric and also used to refer
to buddha images. "Sing" means lion, but may
be a corruption of the Thai word for Sri Lanka, where
the image is supposed to come from.
Wat Pra Sing was founded in the 14th century to enshrine
the ashes of King Kam Fu.
From Wat Pra Singh, you might want to go on to Wat Chedi
Luang, which is just a short walk away. Another important
temple within the walls is the oldest: Wat Chieng Man.
Its another short walk away, near the Chang Puak gate
and the Thai Airways ticket office.
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