Visit Wat Phra Putthabat Pha Nam (Lamphun)

Located in the Li district of Lamphun province, on the edge of the superb Road 106, Wat Phraputthabat Pha Nam is one of the most important temples in the area. It is also a popular sunrise observation point, often on a sea of ??mist in the winter months (November to March). Abandoned for almost 300 years before its restoration, the place welcomes you with a large fifteen meters high statue of Kruba Abhichai, a disciple of Kruba Chao Srivijaya. The word kruba, mainly used in the North of Thailand, means the master, the one who teaches, and is generally carried by famous monks.

There are two parts to visit at this temple. The one in the valley with the large statue of Khru Ba Apichai Khawpbee and in the temple behind, the glass coffin where his mummified remains covered with gold are kept, mummy whose clothes are change every year on March 3rd in a big ceremony. And the other part, at the top of the mountain which consists of two sanctuaries, connected by a bridge, one housing the golden relic and the other the white relic (I do not have more details on these relics) . A Burmese style reclining Buddha is also at the top which you can reach by climbing a Naga staircase located at the bottom of the lower part of the temple or by the road. But it seems that the road is not easy and narrow. That's what I was told but I did not check as I chose the steps. Besides the spectacle of the sunrise, the view up there over the valley isreally nice !