The temple of a thousand steps, Isaan, Thailand

in #travel • 7 years ago

There is a temple situated on the top of an isolated hill about 10 km from my village Ban Hoy Deur in Chaiyaphum province, that is known locally as the temple of a thousand steps...

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You won't find it, or my village come to that, on any map...

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You rarely see anyone here apart from on Buddhist festival days...

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As it is mostly far too hot here for anyone, including monks, to walk up the steps...

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A lot of it's charm is that if you can make the effort to climb it...

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You are rewarded by panoramic views of the country around...

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And you are nearly always the only ones there...

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The hand rails of the steps are intricately carved and painted Nagas with their tails in the mouths of the next ones below...

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Nagas are the dragon/snake spirit guardians of the rivers and lakes in Thai Buddhism...

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You see them at pretty well every Thai Buddhist temple...

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As you can see, the view from the top is very impressive...

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And so is the temple...

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Another feature of Thai Buddhist temples are intricately carved Teak door and window panels...

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Also bell towers...

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Inside the temple there are many colourful images of Buddha...

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And offerings of flowers, incense etc. left to him...

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Now all that is left to do...

The Temple of 1000 steps (46).JPG

After ringing the bells a few times...

Is to go back down again...

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Many thanks to Fuc, my wife's eldest son for giving some scale to these photos...

I hope you have enjoyed coming on this little journey with us, feel free to comment, upvote and resteem if you like...

The Temple of 1000 steps (50).JPG

#photography #buddhism #thailand
7 years ago in #travel by
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     7 years ago  

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       7 years ago  

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