The Taj Mahal of Thailand Wat Rong Khun temple

Around 1887, there were only a few households living and farming in Rong Khun Village. They relied on the small murky creek flows into the Lao River, which was the village was named Ban Rong Khun according to the nature of this river. The temple was first established on the western bank of the Lao River near the Mae Mon River, which was about 500 meters south of the Rong Khun River. The villagers invited Phra Thongsuk Bawin, the monk from Wat San Sai Noi, nearby village (no. 13), to be the abbot. Later, the riverbank eroded, and temple was collapsed. Until during the times when the community leader was Mr. Mi Kaewlueamsai, he and the villagers had relocated the temple to be in front of his rice field, which was opposite to the road on the west side next to the Rong Khun River. Soon after, Phra Thongsuk moved out of the temple, leaving only 3 novices. Among them, Novice Ta Deewarat had left the monkhood to became a layperson. Mr. Ta was highly respected by villagers, so he got elected to be the headman of the village and finally became the Subdistrict Headman of Bua Sali Subdistrict. Due to the expansion of the village, not only the temple's space was confined but also was a lowland that brought suffering for villagers when times of the flood in monsoon season. Therefore, Mr. Ta Deewarat and villagers relocated the temple at its present location. This piece of land was donated by Mr. Ta's wife, Mrs. Buakeaw, approximately 4 Rai (1.58 Acre). When the temple was finished, altogether they invited Phra Duangrot Aphakaro, a monk from Wat Mung Muang, Mueang District, Chiang Rai to be the abbot, as recommended from Phrakru Phutthisarawethi, the Venerable Monk. The temple flourished greatly while Phra Duangrot Aphakaro was the abbot, there were 4 monks, 10 novices, and 2 nuns. Several years later, Phra Duangrot moved to another temple, leaving Wat Rong Khun without the abbot. The villagers traveled to meet the abbot of Mueang Chiang Rai district to requested a monk to be the abbot. The Monk Dean has sent Phra Intha to stay, but he only resided for one rains-residence (three months in rainy season) before moving to another temple. The villagers then traveled to Wat San Sai Noi again to request Phra Sawai Chakaro to be the abbot in 1956.#travel #thailandtrip #chiangrai