Wat Phai Rong Wua (วัดไผ่โรงวัว)
Thai. ‘Bamboo Shed Cow Temple’, a Buddhist temple in
Suphanburi, named after the area in which it is located and originally a bamboo grove where local villagers brought their cattle to rest in the shadow whilst they were farming the fields. The temple is
located on a
248
rai plot of land and has a
large Buddhist theme park depicting both life-sized and giant sculptures of characters, scenes and themes from
Buddhism and related stories, as well as dozens of
Buddha images in all sizes. It also features a
Maha Bodhi-style pagoda and a peninsula in a pond that depicts scenes from
narok, the Buddhist hell. The temple was established in 1926, initially as a monastery on an area of 20 rai, and was expanded after the villagers invited
Luang Pho Khom (หลวงพ่อขอม) from
Wat Phra
Sri Rattanamahathat (fig.) in Meuang District to become the abbot. He changed the temple's official name to Wat Phohtharaam (วัดโพธาราม), though it is popularly still referred to as Wat Phai Rong Wua. In 1959, Luang Pho Khom had construction started to the giant bronze
Gautama Buddha image, which took 17 years to build and is purportedly the largest bronze Buddha image in Thailand, while in 1975 construction also started on the 58 meter high and 40 meters wide Phra Kakusantho (พระกกุสันโธ) Buddha image, which took 5 years to build.
回
|