Wat Songtham Phra Pradaeng

#dreamvoyage Wat Songtham is an ancient temple in the Mon Buddhist sect, built at the same time as Nakhon Khuen Khan. Phra Pradaeng is like a melting pot of diverse cultures, with Thais, Chinese, and Mon living together. The Mon culture is reflected in one of the important temples in Nakhon Khuen Khan. Wat Songtham Worawihan is one of the second-class royal temples, built at the same time as Nakhon Khuen Khan during the reign of King Phutthaloetla Naphalai, Rama II, with His Royal Highness Prince Krom Phra Ratchawang Bowon Sathan Mongkhon as the head of the project. However, it is different from other temples because it is built in Mon architecture, with a large three-storey Raman pagoda enshrining Buddha images in various postures around it. The ordination hall is built in brick and mortar style, and is notable for its 56 pairs of round pillars arranged in pairs. The reason for having so many pillars is to support the spacious ordination hall terrace. Inside is enshrined a Sukhothai-style Buddha image in the Mara-Vijaya posture in a carved Mon-style wooden frame. The entire chapel is decorated with murals of the life of the Buddha and the Vessantara Jataka on the walls. The ceiling is decorated with two Mon paintings. The vihara is built in brick and mortar and decorated with teak gables and raka leaves. In front of the principal Buddha image in a metal niche, there is a replica of the Buddha's footprint decorated with mother-of-pearl for Buddhists to pay homage to. It is considered a center of high-class Mon art that is still in perfect condition and beautiful, hard to find in Thailand. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.