Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand

On board to Bangkok

At Bangkok airport

My trip to Chiang Rai in Thailand was between 4th and 15th June 2011. The access was by air upto Bangkok from Chennai and further by road.

The double decker took us from Bangkok to Chaing Rai

The journey was very comfortable at a very high speed

Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is a province and also a city in Northern Thailand. It is in the Burmese border of Thailand.The city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and became the capital of the Mengrai dynasty. Subsequently, Chiang Rai was conquered by Burma and remained under Burmese rule for several hundred years. After Siam or Thailand annexed Chiang Mai in 1899 Chiang Rai was proclaimed a province of Thailand in 1933.

Chiang Rai Bus Terminal

The province Chiang Rai is famous for its hot springs. I could not visit any of them. Recent earthquake in Burmah (Myangmar) had affected Chiang Rai also. The recent eruptions of hot springs around 20km away has threatened the people with possible volcanic eruptions. The prices have come down for properties in Bandu where I lived for some days.

The road to Chiang Rai from Bangkok was a four track highway with less traffic. It passed through many small hamlets and towns.
The divider was decorated with flower beds and lawn. I noticed that many flowering plants which we grow in India in a different way, have been used for highway decoration.

The light green plant seen here is nothing else than Duraanta, which is commonly used in India. The red flowers seen amidst green leaves are of Ixora ( Ixora Coccinnea) .( In Kerala it is Chethy or Thetti )

Another common feature along the road was decorated bill boards having the picture of King of Thailand or the queen. Every circle or junction used to have this.

In the raod in front of the Palace in Bangkok, the events in the life of the present king is protrayed in central posts. (This I have added in a different blog.)


Chiang Rai has a place in Thai history and religion.In 1432 during the reign of King Sam Fang Kaen of Mangrai dynasty (1402–1441) the Phra Kaeo, or Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha statue, was discovered in Chiang Rai when an earthquake split the Chedi at Wat Phra Kaeo of Chiang Rai City. The beautiful jade figure was then seen concealed within. Another telling of the story has the 'Emerald Buddha' hastily covered in mud just before marauders entered to pillage. It wasn't until many years later, that the clunky-looking mud Buddha was found to actually house the magnificent jade statue, perhaps by way of the earthquake mentioned above - which caused a piece of the clay to break off - revealing the jade beneath

However, emerald Buddha is adorned in many other temples of Chaing Rai as a souvenir. We visited a nearby Buddha temple out of curiosity, though nothing of its charm was known from the main road other than this sign board:

Similar signboards are seen in front of houses and establishments. Some portray King's picture while some have their own family pictures ! The size of the board will be smaller for houses, however.

We walked along the lane and crossed one culvert. The gate was visible.

But this is perhaps one of the ordinary temples we have seen on the way to Chiang Rai from Bangkok on the side of the highway.

As soon as we entered the courtyard the monk in charge of the temple came running in appreciation and welcomed us in.

The king and queen are seen on the verandah of the temple also.

Knowing that we were from India he showed a CD and played it. We thought it might be some manthra or someting. To our surprise it was an album of nostalgic hindi film songs starting with " neele gagan me chale" ending with "Dum Maaro DUm" of Bobby!. One may doubt what prompted him to play that CD in the temple but really it had a different meaning to me. The songs proved to be charming and enchanting in that atmosphere.

The altar of the Bandu village Buddha temple.

An enlarged replica of Emerald Buddha is also seen.

The Picture of the Thailand king in the attire of a monk

is also kept near the altar.

The replica of the Emerald Buddha

The close up of the face of the emerald buddha

But after taking a group photo with the Monk, I sat in front of him as if for a dialogue though the language was alien. He didnt know English.

He went into a meditation in front of me. We sat together there for some time.

The interior lured our eyes. We got up an explored each corner of the interior.

On our left ( right of the altar) there is a sitting place covered with soft velvette drapery.

I think venerable persons are to be seated here.

I sat on the floor and enjoyed the seat with a touch.

The altar

There were many idols of Buddha in various styles.

The doorways and windows brought cool breeze in and soft light in the most adequate way for the spiritual journey to within.

There were drawing on the window panes.

The close study of artefacts in the altar of the Buddha temple

A throne is kept near the altar on the left side.

Close study of the throne near the altar

Near a picture of the King garbed as a Sannyasin,

a ball of thread, candles etc are kept

Close study of the artefacts.

Besides the altar a cradle like stand is kept where

fans and other items are kept

The blue and yellow things are fans it seems

Close up of fans with engraved pictures

And the fan has a stand too!

The Big Ben.

The temple interior is adorned with several paintings. They are of recent origin it seems. They depict different events in the Buddha's life.

When we finished exploring the interior,

we could see the monk still in meditation.
Hence we came out and enjoyed the serene courtyard


he is posing for the picture. Dont think that he has been arrested by the authorities!

Close up of the dragon
Side view of the verandah
Side view of the temple

There were mango trees in the courtyard. Gazebos to sit and chat were also provided as you can see. A bunch of bananas and a pot of water were kept under a tree for public consumption!.

Around the temple there are sheds. Some of them contain Buddha idols.
One cart painted Gold, was also spotted there.

On the Northwest corner, a soldier like idol was being worshipped in a small sanctum sanctorum.

I thought this is like kshetrapalaka (temple protector) in Hindu temples.
We located a solitary edifice on the South East corner of the courtyard.

Library cum guest house in the silent zone.

We walked to that building. None was seen there. Apart from the Bikku (monk) who was on meditation , apainter was the only human being in that premises. That was a library cum dormitory. An altar was also erected for personal worship. Adjacent toilets and bathrooms revealed that guests are frequently accommodated. We waited to see the Bikku to get up so that we could seek better accommodation here.

A stupa is being built behind the temple. A single painter is doing the work in a slow pace.

Krishnan Kartha photographs the group staying in the dormitory

We were accommodated at a resort near Bandu Municipality in an air conditioned

dormitory. The resort had some apartments also, occupied by tourists from different

parts of the world.

Krishnan Kartha with the group

The resort was throbbing with the virgin vibration of nature. It was in the backdrop of a village and hence nothing affected its sylvan sanctity.

Lake behind the dormitory

serene water

we

we need to have time to spend in contemplating the beauty of mature here.

A restaurant was there in the resort serving Thai dishes only. We did not try our luck there however, though we enjoyed being there for hours exploiting the enchanting surrounding and the rustic interior

.

We do not know what the exhibited in glass niche on all tables in the restaurant.

Sample flies and insects for Thai preparation?

The sign board says " No drugs & Nuclear Weapons"

A bar was seen almost abandoned. The feel there was good.

The resort was indeed a walker's delight.

Krishnan Kartha starts his stroll with his friend

When we walk we interact with truth ; sathsang!