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All Thailand Tambon Khaem Son Wat Pha Sorn Kaew (Temple on the Glass Cliff)

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew (Temple on the Glass Cliff)

Modern design and unusual architecture make this mountaintop temple no ordinary Buddhist retreat.

Tambon Khaem Son, Thailand

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Daniel Hall
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The temple against the backdrop of the hills and clouds.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
The temple against the backdrop of the hills and clouds.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
Part of the pagoda complex.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
A sculpture in the garden.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
The temple, framed by the mosaic in the Pagoda   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the pagoda   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
The pagoda at Watpratarpharsornkaew.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
The temple and pagoda.   dhall111 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Hidden away high up in the hills of north central Thailand, Wat Pha Sorn Kaew is a Dharma retreat for monks and Buddhist followers. The mountaintop sanctuary, with a preaching hall, pagoda, and surrounding gardens, is a stunning design, one that expresses its architectural youthfulness.

The site’s location at Khao Kho was chosen for its natural beauty, to inspire meditation. Set against the serenity of the mountains is the site’s most striking feature, the ice-white temple itself, representing the traditional five Buddhas who visited the Earth. The Buddhas are nested together in the meditation position, looking out over the valley. Each one is slightly larger than the one before, a modern and refreshing design with few hints of traditional Thai architecture.

The non-traditional design extends to the pagoda, a lotus flower-inspired shape set over five levels, with a large glass structure hanging down through the centre to connect each floor. The surfaces are covered with over 5 million mosaic tiles, pottery shards, and pieces of teapots and China sets, with no two patterns alike. It’s colorful and quirky, and sitting in the middle of the mosaics is said to bring fortune and good luck.

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew (also known as Wat Pra Tat Pha Kaew and Watpratarpharsornkaew) was mostly completed in 2004, and was elevated to the status of temple only in 2010. In its short history, despite its remote location, it has become a center for the foundation of mindfulness practice, one of the core Buddhist principles.

It could be argued that Wat Pha Sorn Kaew feels out of place in the remote hills of northern Thailand, and it does bear a striking resemblance to the style of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Its style is unlike any other, but no matter the design, the views are breathtaking and the landscape inspiring. In that respect, the temple in the mountains is much like its traditional ancestors.

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Temples Buddhism Mountains Architecture Architectural Oddities

Know Before You Go

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew is a relatively new site, having been completed in 2004, and is not widely recognised as a tourist attraction, therefore it can be quite difficult to visit. It is located about 5 hours north of Bangkok, between the towns of Lom Sak and Phitsanulok in the Phetchabun region. At present, the only way of reaching the temple is by your own transport or on a private tour.

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Added By

dhall111

Edited By

Greg Jones, Blindcolour, desmocrat, makalu57

  • Greg Jones
  • Blindcolour
  • desmocrat
  • makalu57

Published

March 16, 2017

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pha_Sorn_Kaew
  • http://www.tourismthailand.org/Wat-Phra-That-Pha-Kaew
Wat Pha Sorn Kaew (Temple on the Glass Cliff)
95 Moo 7, Red House
Campson, Khao Kho
Tambon Khaem Son
Thailand
16.789345, 101.050905
Visit Website
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