Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Khao Yai National Park became Thailand's first national park in 1962 and UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It is around 2 and half hour drive from Bangkok and makes an ideal weekend getaways from the busy life of Bangkok.

There is no shortage of hotels in this area which suit to everyone's budget. We went during the covid time so there were very few people visiting the area.

entrance to park

cars line up to buy entrance ticket

Entrance ticket needs to be bought by everyone. For local Thais the amount is very reasonable.

entrance ticket

The Shrine of Palad-Jang:

On side of the entrance to park is a shrine guarded by plenty of stone animals, elephants, zebra, hens macaques... probably symbolizing animals inside the national park.

It is customary not only in Thailand but in almost all places in South-east Asia to pay homage to deity before embarking on journey specially up the hills or near a country border.

It is said the deity protects you from all dangers. Built in 1962, this temple is visited by all Thais to pay homage and seek their blessings.

You cannot not stop yourself from looking to the right side as soon as you enter the national park.

Chao Por Khao Yai came from China as an immigrant to Cha-am, a district in the southern part of western Thailand. He had a very good knowledge about traditional medicine, known as the medicine man, he gradually over a period of time was elevated to the status of spiritual father.

People stop, make offerings, pray for the wishes to come to fulfilment and proceed.

on the side of temple

The collection of animals probably symolize the  animals inside the national park, though I doubt if one can get to see zebras there :)

garlands on trunks

garland on tusks

Like all temples, wats in Asian countries, you need to take off foot wear before entering.

Inside the shrine, Chao Por Khao

The image of Chao Por Khao is flanked by two golden lion statues. Below, on the sides are two golden and green colored dragons. Dragon, a mythical animal is a symbol of power and grandeur.

more animals, this time, small ones on side

more animals on side

a small shrine beside the main one

burning lamp

pouring oil to lamp

a bucket is placed at the bottom which collects extra oil after the lamp bowl gets overfilled

buying flowers and bottle of oil for lamp

praying in front of temple

a small shrine in a corner

animals under a tree

After paying visit to the shrine, we proceed to drive up the mountains.

Driving further up the mountains, surrounded by thick vegetation.

A stone tablet on side of the road catches our attention

The park was made an ASEAN Hertitage Park in 1984 and in 2005, with other parks around Dong phaya Yen mountains, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name " Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai Forest Compex"

information of vegetation

forest trees

another view of forest below

Sai Sorn reservoir

a male sambhar deer by the side of reservoir

sambhar deer in close up

a female sambhar deer or Indian munjtac? Could not clearly see from road.

Tourist information center

After a short break here, stretching our legs, we proceed to Haew Suwat waterfall.

Sulamani Temple, Bagan

Sulamani temple is located south-west of Bagan in Minnanthu village. It is one of the most visited temple in Bagan and has beautiful frescos.

small shops outside the temple

The two storey temple has a ground floor and a smaller upper floor. There are three receding terraces on the ground floor and four in the upper floor.  The corners of all terraces have small square stupas. The upper floor is topped by a shikhara on which is the hti.
It suffered heavy damages during earthquakes. The damage of 1975 eathquake was restored, but again in 2016, the shikhara was badly damaged. It was being renovated when we visited the place in March 2019.

The top of temple is shikhar type but unlike Ananda is not gilded, on top of which is hti, an umbrella shaped ornament.

History of temple:

information stone outside the temple tells how Narpatisithu found a ruby and built the temple at that place.

information in Burmese

King Narpatisithu apart from constructing this temple in 1183, also built Dhammayazika and Gawdawpalin. Not surprising that Htilominlo (son of Narpatisithu) built Htilominlo temple which reflects shades of Sulamani temple which was built later in 1218.

The lower floor is larger in area, but the height of both the floors is same which gives a complete balance to the structure.

After the temple suffered heavy destruction in 1975 earthquake, access to upper floor has been prohibited.

entrance to temple premises through this arched gate, picture taken from inside

take shoes off before entering temple

 east entrance to temple with flaming pediment

beautiful stucco work near entrance

two kalmukha together, where arrow points

 temple guardian on one side

guardian on other side of entrance

Placing or painting a temple guardian protects not only the temple, but also those visiting the place.

 fresco on ceiling

golden seated Buddha on eastern entrance

Buddha sits in Bhumisparsh mudra, or the earth-touching pose with right hand touching bhumi or earth. The pose represents of Buddha's awakening as the earth witnesses his enlightenment.

There are porches on all four sides, but the one in eastern side juts out a little. This seemed a regular feature in most temple where the east side projects out more. There are golden Buddha images on the ground floor on four sides.

mural paintings between archways

As you can visualize, a corridor runs all around on the ground floor interrupted on four sides with an entrance where there are seated Buddha images on a pedestal.

Buddha image between two archways

Buddha image with chatra or umbrella

In the above picture, Lord Buddha is seated in bhumisparshmudra under an umbrella in a deeply recessed alcove and symbolizing the enlightenment and the First Week. It is said that in his first week, he sat at the foot of Bodhi tree. The umbrella probably symbolizes enlightenment.

The enormous brick image has been restored and painted many times.

Buddha spent his last seven weeks near the Bodhi tree under which he got enlightenment.

Buddha sitting on a lotus, beautiful fresco behind the image

Buddha on a pedestal

Frescos at temple:

Sulamani temple has one of the best and well maintained frescos to appreciate.

Fresco showing disciples on knees with flowers at the feet of Buddha

Buddha painting on wall

disciple with flowers

reclining Buddha on wall

Like other temples, Sulamani temple too has Buddha images in interconnecting corridor.

temple murals

The inner walls of temple corridor in the lower floor has remarkable frescos and murals all around. They have been restored in 1994. On the south end of temple, the paintings are damaged. The temple lets in enough light to appreciate the beauty of frescos.

iron grills placed in front of wall to protect from damage by hands touching the walls

Left part of the above picture shows Mucilinda, the Naga king protecting the Buddha from pouring rain. 

another mural of Buddha sitting under the canopy of Mucilinda

slightly faded mural showing Buddha with disciples on his sides and monks below with alms bowls

disciples sitting beside Buddha feet and ink inscription where the arrow points

 reclining Buddha mural on wall in one of the corridor, seated Buddha on side

seated Buddha mural

the painting here looks very different, seems an emaciated Buddha

very faded mural

looks like a beautiful piece of art, but the plaster has fallen off

inscription stone

This stone slab in the north portico of temple explains how King Narapatisithu found a ruby at the place where this temple was later built.

somewhat faded painting

very fine but faded elephant painting with ink incription on side, near his head

reclining Buddha with his followers

flaming arch stucco work on top, beautiful work on side

kalmukha

kalmukha and lotus flowers on sides

The brickwork throughout the temple is considered one of the best in Bagan. At the base are visible niches where plaques were placed depicting Jataka Tales (stories about the previous lives of Lord Buddha). Either the plaques have worn out with time or broken but now you see only empty spaces.

lotus bud at the flaming pediment

The side wall on outside near the entrance show very fine carved stucco. Down in the picture is seen kalmukha.

The other side of temple with no entry arched gate

The temple has entrances from all four sides, but eastern side is the main entrance. A must visit temple with intact and very well preserved and beautiful murals and fresco.