Wat Suan Dok is located in a fortified square beyond
Chiang Mai walls.
The King offered him the royal flower garden (Suan Dok) as a place to build a temple. The temple was established in 1371.
When Sumana Thera was living in Sukhothai, he had a vision which showed him where to find a very holy relic that had long been buried near the city. When the relic was unearthed, miraculous illuminations took place confirming its power.
These miracles did not repeat themselves for the King of Sukhothai, who left the relic in the care of the monk.
Thus when King Ku Na invited Sumana Thera to Chiang Mai, the monk brought the holy relic with him. When the relic was about to be enshrined at the temple, he found that the relic had split into two pieces. One of these pieces was kept at Wat Suan Dok, and the other was buried at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.
On the site there are numerous chedi containing the remains of the royal family of Chiang Mai. These were collected from different sites in Chiang Mai and placed there at the wish of Princess Dararatsmi in 1909.
It is not easy to see, but the column at the back (in blue) has been restored compared with the one at the front. When the restoration work is complete the temple will be amazing; similar to some buildings of the Imperial Palace in Bangkok.
Whoa. Look at these pillars! My oh my they are out of this world! And I can't believe what a little restoration can do!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the pillar made of and makes it turn pink? Pollution? Decaying?
The pinkish color seemed to be something similar to plaster/cement. It seems like the decorative colorful little pieces of glass and ceramic (like the blue column) have fallen out and have thus exposed the plaster/cement to humidity and wind.
Delete