Wat Phra That Doi Khao Khwai Kaeo, Buddhist temple in Rop Wiang, Thailand.
Wat Phra That Doi Khao Khwai Kaeo is a Buddhist temple in Rop Wiang, Thailand, featuring a 30-meter golden Lanna-style chedi that sits on a square base with three stacked tiers. The site also includes a riverside garden with walking paths and houses an ancient Buddha statue called Phra Phut that is partially embedded in the ground.
The temple was established in 1785 and received royal permission in October 1980 to officially define its boundaries as a religious site. These two events mark the founding and the formal recognition of this spiritual place in the region.
The temple serves as a place where visitors come to pay respect to the partially buried Buddha statue and sit quietly for prayer. The metal sheets around the stupa base show a mix of Thai and Chinese zodiac designs that reflect the blending of local and wider Asian traditions.
The temple is open daily from morning until evening and welcomes visitors to explore both the religious structures and garden areas. The pathways are easy to walk through, especially if you follow the walking paths along the riverside.
The temple is known for its unusual combination of traditional Lanna designs mixed with representations of all twelve Chinese zodiac animals on metal sheets. This blend reflects the historical trade routes and the long presence of Chinese communities in the wider region.
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