Wat Phra Kaew, Chai Nat Province, an ancient and beautiful temple

Wat Phra Kaew (Chainat Province) is an ancient temple. It was originally called Wat Kaew or Wat Phop Kaew. It is located in Phraek Si Racha Subdistrict, Sankhaburi District, Chainat Province. It is an ancient temple of the same generation as Wat Mahathat in Sankhaburi City. Inside the temple is the “Queen of Stupas in Southeast Asia”, which is a tall Lavo style stupa mixed with Dvaravati art. The base of the stupa is a wooden pedestal with Sukhothai and Srivijaya art mixed together. In front of the stupa is the Luang Pho Chai Wihan, which has a carved lintel attached to the back of the Buddha image. It is assumed that it was moved from a castle in Cambodia. Therefore, this temple is another important temple in Chainat Province. The temple has Luang Pho Chai as the principal Buddha image in the chapel on the east side of the principal stupa. It was renovated by Luang San Buranurak (Chai Ampornsawat) during the reign of King Rama V. Behind Luang Pho Chai, there is a sandstone lintel attached upside down at the back of the Buddha image. There is a statue of Indra riding the Erawan elephant above the face of Kala. Prince Suphatdis Diskul has arranged this lintel to be in the Khmer art of the Bapuan period, which is around 1550-1650 B.E. It is believed that this lintel was moved from a Khmer castle that used to be in the temple area or nearby. Location: Tambon Phraek Si Racha, Amphoe Sankhaburi, Chainat