Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Chiang Mai Tours : Jed Yod Temple

Jed Yod Temple the Hidden Jewel Of Chiangmai Wats

Wat Jed Yod (also spelled Wat Jed Yod) in Chiang Mai is a novel and chic temple positioned in peaceable inexperienced grounds. Inbuilt 1453 to host the eighth World Buddhist Council, it's named for its seven spires.
In the Wat’s compound, there's an previous chedi whose name comes from the seven spires chedi constructed of laterite stone and adorned with stucco sculpture. This building was a copy of the temple in Pagan ( Myebontha Payahla ), Burma which itself is a replica of the temple in Buddha Gaya , India. The seven spires represents the seven weeks, the Lord Buddha spent in Buddha Gaya after his enlightment.


History of Wat Jed Yod The temple that's also called Wat Jed Yod and Wat Photharam Maha Vihara is a Royal temple dating back to the fifteenth century. Its architectural style exhibits Lanna, Rattanakosin, Lao, Chinese and Indian influence. The temple was constructed in the course of the reign of King Tilokkarat, King of the Lanna Kingdom from 1441 till 1487. The King’s ashes are enshrined in a chedi on the temple grounds. In 1477 the 8th World Buddhist Council was held here to debate the texts of the Tripitaka, the scriptures containing the Buddhist teachings.
One other uncommon spotlight of the temple is many small statues of snakes, which have been left their as choices, particularly at the shrine on the again aspect of the viharn under the shade of the Bodhi tree. In Lanna tradition, there is a temple associated with every Zodiac signal (Lanna version of Asian zodiac indicators), and this temple is related to these born within the yr of the Snake zodiac sign.

Sights in Wat Jed Yod


The viharn with 7 peaks

Located close to a serious freeway, the grounds of Wat Chet Yod are nonetheless inexperienced and peaceful. The temple's structure is patterned after the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha found enlightenment. The seven spires symbolize the seven weeks he subsequently spent in meditation there. The temple additionally incorporates Thai, Lao, Indian, and Chinese language influences, giving it a singular however elegant appearance. The oblong base of the pagoda is embellished with 70 weathered bas-reliefs, considered masterpieces of Lanna art. The temple roof might be climbed, but sadly only male visitors can take pleasure in this privilege.

Inside the primary viharn (with the seven chedis), resides the temple’s main Buddha effigy, an enormous seated Buddha on a pedestal with a relatively smaller Buddha statue in entrance of it placed opposite the entrance. On one side of the viharn is a tunnel like construction which homes a big sitting Buddha. Next to the viharn are two massive gongs and quite a lot of bells. Behind the viharn is the more trendy ubosot or ordination hall. After all, there is a huge Bodhi Tree inside the premises to represent the one at Bodh Gaya.


Three pagodas

There are three chedis or pagodas on the temple grounds. The biggest jedi named the Phra Chedi has a sq. shape with niches on all 4 sides and a tall spire on summit. It was inbuilt 1487 to preserve the ashes of King Tilokkarat. This Lanna fashion chedi additionally accommodates the Phra Kan Janthra Buddha image. One other chedi, set on a brick base has collapsed. The third chedi, with an octagonal shape and multiple levels containing niches, is ready on a square brick base. The highest of the structure is missing.


Other structures on the temple grounds

The second viharn of the Jed Yod Temple is a very elegant typical Lanna style viharn with a 3 tiered roof and ornately decorated facade. Naga snakes on either facet of the stairs are guarding the entrance. A large Bodhi tree on the grounds that's said to have been planted by King Tilokkarat himself is a descendant of the tree beneath which the Buddha meditated and reached enlightenment.
 

How to get to the Wat Jed Yod

The nearest airport is Chiangmai which is connected to many cities and countries however it is a higher thought to arrive on the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport because it has higher connectivity to the rest of the world. You can take a flight further from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or avail the night time bus or train. The temple is very straightforward to get to. It's situated within the North West part of town, round 2 km from the outdated walled metropolis center, andnear the Chiangmai museum. You possibly can take a tuk tuk but negotiate on the worth before you begin the journey. Or, you can simply rent a bicycle or a motorbike and drive there yourself. The most comfortable method to get there's by private tour from Chiang Mai. Most hotels can e-book one for you or contact travel agency in Chiangmai.

Entry payment & open time
The wat grounds are open each day from 6 am until 6 pm. Entrance fee is free, though donations are extremely appreciated.


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Circle Journey Chiangmai to Maehongson Tours three days 2 nights

Maehongson Tours 3 days 2 nights loop Trip from Chiangmai

Maehongson is one in every of northern Thailand's most well-known multi-day excursions. This Maehongson package tours is a loop that starts and finishes in Chiangmai, taking in splendid mountain and river scenery along with attention-grabbing cities to explore.

First Day Maehongson Tours Loop :

Huai Nam Dong National Park, which is a little bit over halfway to Pai and lunch.


We switch from Chiangmai City in the morning. For first day tours originates in Chiang Mai and travels northwest one hundred fifty km on some sheer and zigzag roads through the mountain bushiness to the novel riverside town of Pai. The surroundings is breathtaking alongside the best way and we break at at
Huai Nam Dang is usually part of a trip to Mae Hong Son since you move it on Highway 1095. Huai Nam Dang National Park masks an area of one hundred eighty square kms. of Amphoe Mae Taeng, Chiangmai and Amphoe Pai, Mae Hong Son. Many of the areas are ranged highlands. The mountain has a verdant forest, that is the supply of tributaries and numerous streams.


Sights embody: Huai Nam Dang Viewpoint or Doi Kiu Lom overlooks Doi Chiang Dao and is an outstanding spot to see sunrise amid cloudy valleys within the early morning. To get there, drive along Mae Malai-Pai Street to between Km. sixty five-66, after which take a 6-kilometre entry highway to the park office.

Highlight : Doi Chang Viewpoint is positioned 20 kms. past the Huai Nam Dang Viewpoint. Solely a 4-wheel vehicle can make the trip. The scenic views of pure mountain ranges and early morning sea of cloud can be seen from here.


After that go to Pong Num Ron Tha Pai (Tha Pai Hot Spring). Take a mineral bath for half hour otherwise kick on to Pai. Tha Pai Hot Spring are one of the focal points of Huai Nam Dang National Park, in Maehongson province, eight kilometers south of Pai. The springs offer a lot of bathtubs for guests to bathe in, and it is also doable to bathe in the stream that runs by way of the site. The water from these springs is claimed to have sturdy therapeutic value.


Continue to cease at Second World War Memorial Bridge that crosses the Pai River. Thereupon take a journey in the gorgeous flowers backyard and have some espresso before you go to Pai Canyon. This small however lovely canyon is situated within the heart of Pai Valley.


At last vacation spot on the first day loop, also worth spending an in a single day at is the city of Pai, an unexpected find in a distant mountain valley. Twenty years ago the city of Pai was a few dust roads and outlets, as vacationers soon discovered the pure beauty of the Pai River and it’s surrounding valley, companies and growth followed not lengthy after and it was the little backpacker settlement that it's today. Popular amongst hippy and inventive varieties both Thai and overseas alike, the feel is very a lot new age. This small city is stuffed with bohemian style cafes, eating places, bookstores and guesthouses.


This night, we keep at Baan Pai Village. We love a pleasant hut with good garden view in the primary space of Pai walking street.

Second Day Maehongson Tours Loop :
We are going to start with a morning trip to Mae Yen temple to enjoy the views over the sleepy town of Pai and the Pai river valley.


Mae Yen temple is small temple on a hill 2 km from Pai is especially attention-grabbing for its setting and the view overlooking the town you've got from it. The 353 steps long staircase to succeed in the temple is charming even in case you can skip it and take the street to access to Wat Phra That Mae Yen. The temple consists of two structures and some small golden pagodas. In front of the temple entrance, there's a little market with stalls the place you should purchase merchandise, mainly hats and scarves knitted by the vendors. They are often very helpful as a result of it's cold at night and within the early morning in Pai.


Then go to to Santichon Village or Chinese Yunnan Village and lunch.
Yunnan Cultural Village supplies the lifestyle and Chinese clay houses. Vacationers can style the inexperienced tea and pork hocks with buns at Baan Santichon surrounded by the mountains of Pai. At Santichon village, we've to attempt authentic Yunnan Chinese meals reminiscent of pork hocks, buns, steamed black chicken with Chinese language herbs, fried shiitake mushroom, and Yunnan woman’s salad.


We'll afterwards make our method towards Maehongson stopping at Tham Lod (Lod Cave) where we'll discover on bamboo rafts deep into the darkness of these caves. About forty kms. from Pai we'll find Soppong (that also goes by Pangmapha), that is far more to our liking. Famous for Tham Lod, a massive cave you'll be able to raft by, this is an space of specific beauty. Cave Lodge is taken into account the trekking hub for the area.


Tham Lod is taken into account one among Thailand's most impressive caves, partly for its measurement, partly for its attractive limestone stalactite formations and partly for the bizarre coffin cave hidden inside the main cave. In its entirety, Tham Lod is greater than 1.5 km in length, that is still significantly smaller than some of the caves that can be seen in neighbouring Laos and further afield in Vietnam.


The Lang River flows via greater than a 3rd of the cave's length, giving you a chance to drift by means of on bamboo rafts floating along within the darkness, listening to and smelling the bats overhead, makes for a novel experience. A typical go to features a float by a few of the cave adopted by climbing through different portions to see the coffin cave and a couple of different caverns.
Our next cease might be fish cave where you possibly can see an abundant array of cave dwelling fish.


Afterwards we'll drive up into the hills round Maehongson and stop to calm down at Phu Klon health mineral mud spa. Phu klon geographically means a mud supply and natural mineral spring which is between 60-one hundred forty C. Rising along with the mineral water boiling black mud is clean, free from sulfur scent and filled with wholesome mineral for the skin and blood circulation.
An overnight stop in Maehongson Town.

The Last Day of Maehongson Tours Loop : 


After breakfast at a neighborhood restaurant in Maehongson drive to Doi Kong Mu Temple. The main attractions are the white pagodas and sumptuous view. Doi Kong Mu Temple. This temple is particularly atmospheric in the early morning with mist and low cloud often filling the valley below. By midday, the heat of the sun often clears the air to leave beautiful views of the valley beneath and mountains beyond. The larger pagoda was built in 1860 and accommodates the relics of Phra Moggalana, one of the disciples of Buddha. The smaller stupa was created in 1874, by Phraya Singhanatracha, the first governor of Mae Hong Son.


After go to to Karen Longneck Village, Karen Longneck Village area was bigger, with multiple houses, a church and even a school. The village wasn’t totally occupied by simply the long neck women, with a few of the women as a substitute displaying elongated ear lobes, rings around their calves, and even some in simply plain clothes with no bodily adornments. Lots of the women were congregating together while the long neck girls would sit by their houses, with handmade items on show for purchase.


After lunch go to Kaew Komol Cave or Diamon Cave (Calcite cave, there's solely three places within the world.). It is vitally lovely however not enable to take an image inside. Kaew Komol Park is a forest park with a hot spring (now covered by the new Mae Hu reservoir) and fluorite mines. The cave was discovered inside a now abandoned fluorite mine. Clearly the geology is relatively complicated and attention-grabbing for a karst area. A consequence are really extraordinary speleothems, like popcorn calcite, aragonite and other strange things. This cave is said to be essentially the most beautiful cave of Thailand.


Last journey, again to Chiang Mai on soutern way and have a dinner at Ob-Luang National park by the river.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Tour to Muang On Cave

Muang On Cave : One Sights in Chiang Mai


Tour to Muang On Cave and spend peaceful moment within the cave, Muang On Caves are full with wonderful stalactites and stalagmites.
A larger and more illustrious cave structure close to Chiangmai is the Chiang Dao Caves network. It is approximately seventy Klm north of Chiangmai. Rather, the Muang On Cave network is just like charming and isn't as stuffed with traveller.
Situated some 35 kms from Chiangmai, a visit to Muang On Cave is a charming day pilgrimage which can clearly be mingle with a visit the San kamphaeng hot Spring, or with visits to the many manufactory which line San kamphaeng Road. Access to the cavern is gained excessive up on the steep sides of a small hummock from that the traveller can enjoyed spectacular perspectives over the encircling area countryside.


The road that leads to the caves wind its high the side of a hill to a small park. From the auto park you need to scale a high Naga Serpent stairs, around 180 steps, before coming to the overpass to the hole. The extra price is 30THB and it goes towards the upkeep of the canister framework. Watch that the lights have been exchanged on before plunging into some big natural hollow.
As you walk into and trek around, you will come across several perpendicular, precipitous, steep stairs going down along with several flat walkways in between. What’s particularly interesting is that you do not need to duck your head as you walk around as all of the cave within the structure are surprisingly high. Fluorescent lights have been craftily placed around to light up the place while retaining the look and feel of natural rock formations.


The Muang on Cave are filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. There is a winding concrete path alongside the cavern ground allowing you to wander along until you lastly attain the tip of the caverns. All the way in which alongside the path you'll see dozens extra of the little shrines which have been erected over the decades. No must duck your head moving round on this cave system as it if full of towering caverns and fluorescent lights artfully placed round to boost the feel and appear of natural rock formations.


The zigzag concrete furrow along the cavans floor allows you to stroll along till you finally attain the top of the cave. As you trek around, you can go several little place of worship or grottoes all along the gangway that have been erected over the decades. One other factor to see out for is the fabulous stalactite and stalagmite formations. As you get to the core cavern ground, you will come across a massive, 30-foot lengthy reclining Lord buddha statuary amidst the stalactites. Above the statue is what, based on legend, is a fossilised dinosaur skeleton!

Take your time and walk everywhere in the caverns as there are some tempting sights along with many niche and loop to be found. Upon getting finished exploring the hole be prepared for the lengthy clamber back up the staircases to the cave doorway.


Muang On’s caves are probably missed by global vacationers for the reason that there's not set bus service going between Mae On and Chiang Mai, and since the cavans in Chiang Dao, 70 kilometers north of the city, have a tourist information write-ups and an established reputation. At any rate, a go to to the caves would make a fantastic day pilgrimage along with a trip the Sankampang hot spring. Work up a sweat climbing down the cave and up the mount staircases and wash all of it off with a dip in the springs!
Get there : Move out of Chiang mai across Nawarrat Bridge and go along Charernmuang Road. Go directly ahead when you reach the superhighway and continue on past the silverware, lacquerware, textiles and carving factories through San kamphaeng - Bor sang umbrella village and take a right at the sign for Muang On Cave in Mae On district.