Wat Huai Pla Kang: ‘Wanna see a 9-storied chedi?’
Each temple tells its own stories. No matter how it was decorated or built, you will always learn something from it. It will reflect what it has been through.
Although Chiangrai was a part of Lanna in the past, but its architectures, including temples, don’t consist of just Lanna style. On the contrary, there are many art styles conbined each other, as there are many other types of inspired cultures.
If you don’t believe it, then you probably want to see this place, Wat Huai Pla Kang. This temple is not like many other temples in Chiang Rai. Most temple in Chiang Rai may be decorated with Lanna style along with Thai traditional style, or something similar. But, The temple is decorated in Lanna-Chinese style. Now that is interesting. You know that Chinese art is glorious and quite colorful. Therefore if it is with Lanna style, everything will be absolutely stunning.
Let’s get to know more about Wat Huai Pla Kang, in case you’re interested and want to go there.
Wat Huai Pla Kang is located on a mountain in Muang County of Chiang Rai. The scenery around there is very beautiful. You can see valleys and local communities from a great distance.
The temple is about 24,000 square metres large. Its northern side is located next to Ban Doo District. The southern side is near Kok River in Rob Wiang District. The eastern side is close to the Area 2 of Rim Kok District. And the western side meets Mae Yao District.
Huai Pla Kang temple was established in the year 2001. At the time, it was just a small Buddhist monk office. However, as time went by, it was developed and been built some architectures. Finally, 4 years after the first day of the establishtment, National Office of Buddhism appoint the place for a temple and give the name ‘Wat Huai Pla Kang’ to it.
Most tourists, both Thai and foreign, pay a lot of their respect to the temple. Some of them get there to practice Dhamma or make merit. You can call this as a heart-gathering place for Buddhists.
If you feel kinda bored or sad, you can travel to Chiang Rai and then head for Huai Pla Kang temple. This may not be a forest monastery, but it is still surrounded with natural scenery. Therefore your mind will be at peace and you will be happy with Dhamma practicing.
Or you can just take a walk around, have s sightseeing. This is good, actually. You will see how fabulous the temple is. As you see the text above, the temple is decorated in Lanna-Chinese style. Now that is true. If you wander around Wat Huai Pla Kang, you will see many stunning, sparkling, and glorious architectures, for examples, Naga-shaped handrails, Goddess Guanyin statues along with other Chinese statues. But the most outstanding one is ‘the 9-storied chedi’.
The 9-storied chedi of Huai Pla Kang temple is something that you must have never seen before. Its doesn’t look like any other chedis in general temples. Most chedis consist of only a few stories and always has golden color. But the 9-storied chedi of Huai Pla Kang temple is really really enormous. It is located just behind the Naga stairway. As soon as you see it, you will know that it is mostly inspired by Chinese art. The whole architecture is colorful and glorious. You can even walk inside it, due to its size. Don’t forget to take your camera out and snap some shots too.
How to get there
Wat Huai Pla Kang is located at 553, Area 3, Rim Kok District, Muang County, Chiang Rai Province.
To get there, you just have to follow Pahonyothin Road, look for the part that leads you to Chiang Rai. Keep driving until you pass the junction of King Mengrai Monument and cross Kok River bridge. Then, after you get down from the bridge, be steady and turn left at the junction of traffic light. From that point, you should pass the restaurant ‘Aek Ocha’. And, finally, you will find another junction, just turn right to Mae Yao District and keep going for about 1 kilometre. At the time, try to look for the sign written the direction to the temple. Yes. Just follow it. For more comfortable, you can contact Travel Agency in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, they can provide a private car with driver or provide tour with air condition for your group.
Opening hours and Entrance fee : Opens daily from 7 am until 8 pm. Admission is free
Note : Not accessible for wheelchair user
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Wat Huai Pla Kang Map
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