This Temple stands opposite Wat Umong on Ratchapakhinai Rd,(marked by place mark 6 on our Google map).
You can either walk down Ratchadamnoen Rd, turning right out of the cafe, across the first crossroads and then left at the second intersection; or if you have already found your way to Wat Umong Mahatcheran, then cross over the street from the front of that Temple.
At the time of my visit the site was in some disarray, looking somewhat neglected but I believe that it is yet another Wat on the restoration list.
Although there was no written history available, I had a very nice chat with a very friendly guy called ,Tong Chai.
Tong Chai informed me that the Wat and the Chedi behind it is over 500 years old and is built and decorated in the original Lanna style.
Despite its present condition, as with most of these wonderful buildings, there is no hiding the beauty, and I look forward to seeing this one again after restoration is finished.
There was a stunning painting on the side of the Vihara, and, I suspect, more inside the Temple.
For more photos of Wat Ban Ping visit our photobucket album here.
Continuing past the up market looking riverside restaurants close to the Lamphun city moat, we crossed the nearby intersection and took the first left soi that appeared to follow the river.
Taking advantage of their location the restaurant appeared to have its own fisherman, who popped his catches into a holding net in the cafe pond.
After a lot of riding in baking hot sunshine we spotted a large riverside restaurant that looked over the river towards a small Doi that turned out to be Doi Lo.
And I am so glad we did. Not that the Temple itself was much to shout about, but the views were fantastic.
Just long enough to get some great shots of the views and the obligatory ‘cute pose’ from a group of local boys who followed us everywhere practising their English.
Our start point was Wat Pang Yuu, which you will find by taking the Hang Dong turn off Highway 11, the one that actually carries on to Samoeng. The Temple is on the left with the entry road being just before the river bridge.
Ally informed me that, although it was not the first time she had visited , she was very impressed with what is clearly a relatively recent facelift. On her previous visit it had apparently been a very run down and neglected place.
Also, don’t miss the ancient looking Buddha scene, under the trees to the left of the pond. Though not lavishly painted like the newer statues you see from the road, for me this image has the real Buddha spirit about it somehow.
And very nice it was to. The River Ping, away from the city centre, certainly on this stretch towards Lamphun, has a wonderfully relaxing effect and a look that belies its size and strength. With the many ancient overhanging trees, floating water plants and its many twists and turns it feels more like a beautiful winding stream.
Didn’t actually get the name of the place but it appears to be a Thai concern, that, the lady who served us our coffee informed us, specializes in fish dishes along with other common Thai options. It is right on the river bank, looking towards the large weir we would visit shortly after. A lovely quiet place for coffee and a very likely meal out place in the future, being not so far from home.
after coffee it was just a couple of minutes ride before we reached the impressive looking weir, which looks to be a fairly new addition, or has at least been recently refurbished and acts also as a river crossing for pedestrians and motorcys. It is at this point that the canal system for Lamphun starts. The surrounding area is quiet lovely, with a nice size gazebo on the banks of the canal, which was occupied by a friendly bunch of local youngsters at the time.
All along the way, apart from the river there are several amazing buildings, from lavish homes to ‘wild shacks’ as Ally calls them.
On the way back to Chiang Mai we spotted a few fishermen in the water hauling nets; stopped for lunch at a local Thai outlet, very tasty food and only 20 baht!;
and shortly before parting at 1.30 , took a short detour to a very nice coffee shop just off the super highway.
This small Temple is located south of Wat Jet Lin on the other side of the road down a small cul-de-sac that ends at the Temple gate.
The nearby houses boasts some beautiful trees that make it a very nice walk into the Temple grounds.
On the other hand, the Bell Tower, hidden behind trees to the rear of the compound seemed to have a some what older feel to it.
Behind the Temple is a medium sized, square Chedi. The things that caught my eye here the most were the green stone Angels on the compound wall as you walk in.
‘Shiny shiny, shiny boots of leather…’ , woops , distant memories of a mispent youth with the sounds of The Velvet Underground ringing in my ears; can’t help getting that song in my head everytime I pass this Wat.
This Temple turned out to be just 5 minutes or so ride down the road and a wonderful place to visit.
Indeed it seems to have been developed into a ‘teaching’ Temple.
Other notable features are the gigantic Golden reclining Buddha; a group of quaint concrete Animal statues, including dinosaurs, and a curious dome shape Vihara.
It became quite impossible to take photographs of the concrete animals without several children rushing into the shot and posing. Many of them seemed keen to practice their English and there was a prolonged period of answering the same questions, ‘what is your name?’, ‘where do you come from?’. The lovely part of that was the genuine looks of delight when they got an answer, seemingly surprised that I’d actually understood them.
One confident young lad, Boom, became my guide for a short time, keen to point all the many different things worth photographing.
It was he who took me around to the dome shape Vihara, quite different in design to anything I’ve seen at Thai Temples before, it had more of a Dutch feel about it to me.
This old Lanna style Temple lies on Sri Poom, the northern moat road, at the top of the Old City , to the western side, before you reach the Morntean temple.
As well as the small Wat there are 2 Viharas.
