Wat Jong Kham, Mae Hong Son

Lying side by side are two Temples not one. Here we visit the province of Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand. The older of the two temples is some 200 years old and was built by the Shan or Tai Yai population.

Called Wat Jong kham it was built in 1827 while Phraya Singharat Racha, the first governor of Mae Hong Son province was in power. This temple has been rebuilt since it was damaged in 1970 due to a fire.

Housing a large Buddha statue the Burmese influence is clear and this statue was built in 1926 in Burma. The temple has a 9 layered castle style roof including the spire and is located in the Nong Jong Kham public park.

Lying alongside the lake, photographers come here to try to capture the temples reflections in the lake. In 1984 it was promoted to a royal temple and is the first temple built in the province. A small museum and a replica Buddha from a Bangkok temple are here as well as food vendors and handicraft stalls. The founder of Ancient Siam in Bangkok was involved in the rebuilding of this temple.

The twin temple that is in the same compound is called Wat Chong Klang and is notable for its white and gold gilded Chedi. The Burmese influence is again seen here with wooden figures carved as bvoth human and animal depicting the Buddha incarnations.

These were made in Burma and came over to Thailand in around 1857. Paintings on glass replicate the Jataka tales I have mentioned before within other temples throughout Thailand.

Captions in Burmese add to the Shan Architecture and often we forget how many Burmese influenced temples there are. Normally the Buddha images are so distinctive especially the colourful lips that always seem to adorn Burmese Buddha images. Many of the wooden dolls represent the wheel of life.

It should be noted that entry to some areas of the temple may be restricted to female visitors, this is not uncommon in Shan/Burmese style temples.

Photo credits

Cr. Praiwan Kaewmanee
 Pream Krishnayudh
 Pim Nara
 Rungtiva Siriruangpanya
 Savikanoi Dhammajak

Author: Gary C.

Editor: Katie K.