THAI TEMPLES

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A Thai Buddhist temple ("WAT" - วัด) is a complex comprising several distinct religious buildings. Major Buddhist ceremonies happen in temples. Some ceremonies related to wedding, death, building consecration are done by monks outside the temple.

-- Burmese style --
Wat Sa Bor Kaew in Phrae

-- Northeastern style --
Nongkhai province

In Thailand, around 30,000 Buddhist temples are consecrated. Thai Temples have regional architectural differences. For example, in Thailand Northern area, some Buddhist temples are built with a Burmese influence, i.e. some Buddha statues are painted in white and monasteries are often made of teak (Lampang and Mae Hong Son cities). In Northeastern area, Thai temples are built with a Laotian influence.

-- Northern style --
Wat Phra That Chae Haeng in Nan

Many Buddhist temples have stunning locations such as temples located in cave, temples located in forest, temples located on top of mountains, temples located on island, temples located on shores of river and so on...

-- Bangkok style --
Wat Pathum Wanaram in Bangkok

Thai temples are safe places for poor people. Poor people are sure to get a place to sleep and a meal also. Every visitor is welcomed to sleep one night at a temple. But if the stay is longer than three days, visitors are expected to act like monks and to shave their head.

A Thai temple is composed of several buildings, which are described in below web pages.

the "WIHARN" (วิหาร)
the "BOT" (โบสถ์)
the pavilion ("SALA" - ศาลา)
the gong tower ("HO RAKANG" - หอระฆัง)
the entrance and walls
the pagoda ("CHEDI" - เจดีย์)
the temple compound
the banian tree ("BO")
the monks house ("KUTI" - กุฎิ)
the crematorium
the library ("HO TRAI" - หอไตร)
the Buddhist hell garden ("NAROK" - นรก)

Thai temple Photo Gallery

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