Wat San Pa Yang Luang Lamphun

This is a beautiful temple, especially the viharn, which is ranked as one of the top 10 most beautiful viharn in Thailand. Phra Khieo Khong Viharn was built in 1993 using golden teak and red wood pillars from Laos, Burma, and Thailand. Phra Khru Ba In was the designer and architect of the local patterns, a blend of the old and the modern. When viewed from the front, Phra Khieo Khong Viharn has a 5-tiered roof with 5 gables, representing the 5 Buddhas. The three at the back represent precepts, concentration, and wisdom, referring to the Lord Buddha’s practice to attain nirvana. The 5 in front and 3 at the back total 8, meaning one must practice the middle path, which is the Noble Eightfold Path, to achieve the Middle Way and the 9 Noble Truths, which is the supramundane truth. In addition, inside Phra Khieo Khong Viharn is the enshrined Phra Phuttha Anyarat Maha Natee Si Hariphunchai, or Phra Khieo Khong, a Buddha statue carved from stone from the Mekong River in Ban Don Mahawan, near Laos. If you have a chance to go to Lamphun Province, don’t forget to stop by and admire the beauty of Wat San Payang Luang.