Thailand - Chachoengsao

Photo Gallery of Chachoengsao in Thailand.

Wat Sothon
A huge monastery in white, decorated with gold. If it was a fine day, it must have shown even more beautiful appearance.

  Chachoengsao is the province on the east of Bangkok and it also has a short coast to the Gulf of Thailand (on the east side of the Thai peninsula), about one to two hours by car from Bangkok. The province is located on the bank of Bang Pakong River and is rich in agricultural products such as rice and mango.

  The history of Chachoengsao dates back to the reign of King Phra Borom Tri Lokkanat in the Ayutthaya period. By the way, The name "Chachoengsao" is derived from Khmer and means "deep canal". The province is called "Paet Rio" as well. (Paet means eight and Rio means stripes)

  We visited there one day trip from Bangkok. You'll enjoy the temple "Wat Sothon" that people there deeply worship, "Wat Samanratanaram" which honor Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha, the old market, "Talat Khlong Suan" that is also called a hundred year-old market, "World Sand Sculpture" where you can see various sand statues and so on.

Wat Sothon
Wat Samanratanaram

[Chachoengsao] Wat Sothon
Wat Sothon or Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan, originally called "Wat Hong", was built in late Ayutthaya Period. They say this temple is the largest Wat (temple) in the world. The building of the temple was huge and outstandingly beautiful. I was quite amazed that there was a temple like this near Bangkok. The temple is very popular among people in Thailand including the locals; the annual number of visitors is the second after Wat Phra Kaew - Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. The monastery houses the sacred Buddha image called Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon that is one of the most worshiped Buddha images in Thailand and also is most revered by local people. Legend says that this Buddha images was found while floating down in the river, however, people couldn't pull it out until they built a small shrine and had a ceremony to invite the image.
The appearance of Wat Sothon 1 A huge monastery in white, decorated with gold.		The appearance of Wat Sothon 2 The view from its site. Very surprised with the huge and beautiful building.
The appearance of Wat Sothon 1 A huge monastery in white, decorated with gold.		The appearance of Wat Sothon 2 The view from its site. Very surprised with the huge and beautiful building.
Decoration The upper part of the building. Decorated with gold and Buddha images.	Rabbits I don't know why but some rabbits can be seen.	In front In front of the temple, very spacious and a lot of cars and visitors come and go.	In front of the hall Beautifully designed very tall lights are side by side. They are really tall!, compared to the people walking around.
Decoration The upper part of the building. Decorated with gold and Buddha images.	Rabbits I don't know why but some rabbits can be seen.	In front In front of the temple, very spacious and a lot of cars and visitors come and go.	In front of the hall Beautifully designed very tall lights are side by side. They are really tall!, compared to the people walking around.
The scene in the main hall 1 Buddha images are housed. The ceiling is very high and it's a spacious place.		The scene in the main hall 2 the sacred Buddha image in the center called Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon that is one of the most worshiped Buddha images in Thailand and also is most revered by local people.
The scene in the main hall Buddha images are housed. The ceiling is very high and it's a spacious place.		The scene in the main hall 2 the sacred Buddha image in the center called Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon that is one of the most worshiped Buddha images in Thailand and also is most revered by local people.
The scene in the main hall 3 A lot of visitors pay respect to the Buddha images.	The scene in the main hall 4 The stone floor is designed with various patterns such as tortoise and other animals.	The scene in the main hall 4 The stone floor is designed with various patterns such as tortoise and other animals.	Before get in in If you wear revealing clothes, you have to put on a robe like in the picture.
The scene in the main hall 3 A lot of visitors pay respect to the Buddha images.	The scene in the main hall 4 The stone floor is designed with various patterns such as tortoise and other animals.		Before get in in If you wear revealing clothes, you have to put on a robe like in the picture.
Next to the main hall 1 There is a large hall next to the main hall. You'll see an offering Thai dance. (Still, when I got there, the dance had just finished.)		Next to the main hall 2 It has a wide room for praying. Compared to the main hall, it's very crowded with visitors. It looks like they are locals, no westerners or tourists.
Offering dance There is a large hall next to the main hall. You'll see an offering Thai dance. (Still, when I got there, the dance had just finished.)		Next to the main hall 2 It has a wide room for praying. Compared to the main hall, it's very crowded with visitors. It looks like they are locals, no westerners or tourists.
Next to the main hall 3 A lot of Buddha images are housed. People pray and put gold leaves on the images.	Next to the main hall 3 A lot of Buddha images are housed. People pray and put gold leaves on the images.	Next to the main hall 4 Around the entrance. Cannot go ahead because of the crowd.	Next to the main hall 4 I wanted to light a candle and take it to the front, but it was very hard because of the the crowd.
Next to the main hall 3 A lot of Buddha images are housed. People pray and put gold leaves on the images.		Next to the main hall 4 Around the entrance. I wanted to light a candle (the picture right) and take it to the front, but it was very hard because of the the crowd.
Market They have a market on the way to the temple from a parking lot. You can buy various things such as food, cookies and lotteries.		Khao Laam A popular sweet snack in Thailand, baked sticky rice mixed with coconut milk and a little sugar in a bamboo stick.	Various sweets They are various sweets.
		Khao Laam A popular sweet snack in Thailand, baked sticky rice mixed with coconut milk and a little sugar in a bamboo stick.	Various sweets They are various sweets.
		Khanom Jaak Thai dessert called "Khanom Jaak", roasted with sticky rice and palm sugar and shredded coconut in nipa palm leaves.	Lottery Selling lottery tickets can be seen so often in a temple. I sometimes buy some but never win !
Market They have a market on the way to the temple from a parking lot. You can buy various things such as food, cookies and lotteries.		Khanom Jaak Thai dessert called "Khanom Jaak", roasted with sticky rice and palm sugar and shredded coconut in nipa palm leaves.	Lottery Selling lottery tickets can be seen so often in a temple. I sometimes buy some but never win !

[Chachoengsao] Wat Samanratanaram
Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha 16 meters high and 22 meters wide. Wat Samanratanaram is famous for the temple which has Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha, which is 16 meters high and 22 meters wide. Ganesha Ganesha is one of the Hindu deities, the eldest son of the destroyer god, Shiva and his wife, Parvati, has an elephant head and four arms, rides on a mouse. Ganesha is worshipped as the god of wisdom and education and remover of obstacles. In Thailand, Ganesha is called Phra Phikanet - พระพิฆเนศ, or Phra Phikanesuan - พระพิฆเนศวร as well. In Hindu, he is known as one of the five deities; Surya (the Sun God), Vishnu (the preserver), Shiva ( the destroyer), Durga (Goddess of Power) and Ganesha. The elephant head There are some legends about the elephant head. When Shiva's wife, Parvati, was taking a bath, she made a boy, "Ganesha", out of the dirt of her body. She asked her son to protect the entrance of the bathroom. Soon, her husband, "Shiva" came back and was going to enter the bathroom, however, a strange boy, Ganesha, was protecting there and wouldn't let him in. Shiva didn't know the boy was his son and got really mad ! He cut Ganesha's head off and threw it somewhere far away. Ahhh ... After that, when the mother, Parvati, knew that, she cried and cried. Shiva felt very sorry and dashed out to find the head. In the end, he couldn't find it but brought back an elephant head that he met first on the way, and made it as Ganesha's lost head. One tusk broken There are some legends about it as well. Ganesha was walking at night under the moon but fell and one of his tusk got broken. The moon was watching all of this from the first and laughed and laughed. Ganesha got mad ! and threw the broken tusk at the laughing moon. Since then, the moon has gone through phases.
Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha 16 meters high and 22 meters wide.		Tha base of the reclining Ganesha The base has a lot of images of Ganesha around.
Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha 16 meters high and 22 meters wide.		Tha base of the reclining Ganesha The base has a lot of images of Ganesha around.
Praying for one by one The images of Ganesha are very colorful. People pray one by one, touching them and wishing they can get good luck.	Praying for one by one The images of Ganesha are very colorful. People pray one by one, touching them and wishing they can get good luck.	Praying for one by one The images of Ganesha are very colorful. People pray one by one, touching them and wishing they can get good luck.	Ganesha and goddess Is the goddess his mother Parvati ?
Praying for one by one The images of Ganesha are very colorful. People pray one by one, touching them and wishing they can get good luck.			Ganesha and goddess Is the goddess his mother Parvati ?
Wishes go reach the god ! Mice are the servants and also vehicles of Ganesha. People whisper their wishes to one ear and at the same time cover another ear not to let the wishes go away from the other side.		Here and there Mice, servants and also vehicles of Ganesha, are here and there.	Around the entrance There are small images of Ganesha around the entrance. People put water but it has a lot of beautiful flower petals.
		Here and there Mice, servants and also vehicles of Ganesha, are here and there.	Around the entrance There are small images of Ganesha around the entrance. People put water but it has a lot of beautiful flower petals.
		Thai dance Thai dance that you can see often in a temple that is offered to gods. This started suddenly in a crowd.	Jibo Kannon (affectionate mother goddess) Except for Ganesha, a lot of Buddha statues are enshrined. This goddess holds a child. Is this Jibo kannon 慈母観音 ?
Wishes go reach the god ! Mice are the servants and also vehicles of Ganesha. People whisper their wishes to one ear and at the same time cover another ear not to let the wishes go away from the other side.		Thai dance Thai dance that you can see often in a temple that is offered to gods. This started suddenly in a crowd.	Jibo Kannon (affectionate mother goddess) Except for Ganesha, a lot of Buddha statues are enshrined. This goddess holds a child. Is this Jibo kannon 慈母観音 ?

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Thailand - Chachoengsao

[Chachoengsao] Wat Sothon

[Chachoengsao] Wat Samanratanaram