Wat Si Khom Kham

Wat Si Khom Kham (Thai: à¸§à¸±à¸”ศรีโคมคำ) is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Phayao town, Phayao Province, Thailand.

The temple hosts the largest Chiang Saen era Buddha statue in the country. Wat Si Khom Kham is located on the shores of Phayao Lake.

Locals call this temple “WatPhrachao Ton Luang”, after the principal Buddha image hosted in the temple. The famous seated statue has a 14-meter lap and a height of 16 meters, cast approximately 500 years ago. The statue is not only a Phayao province signature sight, but also typifies the Lanna Thai Kingdom style. A special ceremony is held each year during the Buddhist Visakha Puja Day to pay homage to the image. One of temple’s halls stands in the lake of Kwan Phayao, filled with elaborate murals by National Artist AchanAngkarnKalayaanapong.

Wat Si Khom Kham is a third-class royal temple and has been honored for being a role model for the development of religious sites.

The temple, located in the center of MueangPhayao by Kwan Phayao, is open every day from 8.00 am-6.00 pm. For additional information, call 0 5371 7433 or 0 5374 4674-5.

History

The founding of Wat Si Khom Kham dates to sometime in the 12th century. The present structure was completed in 1923. The central large Buddha statue was cast during the years 1491 to 1524.

The temple's wihan hosts a 16 metres (52 ft) high, 14 metres (46 ft) wide Buddha statue (Phra Chao Ton Luang) in the angular local style of the 15th and 16th centuries.Surrounding the wihan are 38 Buddha heads, some cast in the local Phayao pink sandstone, dating from the 14th century.

Another temple wihan has been built on stilts over the lake. It hosts murals painted by Thai artist Angkarn Kalayanapong. The murals are in Lanna style with some contemporary features.

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Si_Khom_Kham

Source http://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Wat-Si-Khom-Kham--4322