On the way to Nakhon Phanom, our guide would like to show us a famous temple, Wat Phra That Choeng Chum.
It is in Sakon Nakhon, a city with approx. 54,000 inhabitants and the capital of the province of the same name.
Sakon Nakhon lies on the western edge of the lowland plain of the Mekong at the Nong-Han lake.
With an area of 125 km², the Lake Nong Han is the largest natural lake of north-east Thailand.
Wat Phra That Choeng Chum
Wat Phra That Choeng Chum is the city’s most important landmark. A Chedi, called That here, is the central sanctuary.
The term “That” comes from the Laotian, and denotes a quadrangular Chedi.
Please watch the 4K UHD video
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationThe That is 24 m high and houses a prang from the 10th century. At that time, the region belonged to the Khmer empire with the capital Angkor.
Supposedly, the That was erected above the footprints of the four incarnations of the Buddha. The local population worships the shrine.
Our guide is competent and helpful but also has a tendency of missionizing. He takes Ursula’s hand and goes with her to a monk to be blessed by him.
Then he says that she should give the monk a small donation, that is, money. Ursula was a little stunned, but she followed the instructions.
The monk sits in front of a well-known Buddha statue, the Luang Phor Phra Ong Saen, presumably from the year 1257.
A bridal pair in precious robes uses a prayer hall as a backdrop for his wedding pictures.
Meanwhile one calls the monks for the common prayer.
The day draws to a close and we have to get back on our way. We reach Nakhon Phanom after dark.
Pin it for later 
Text, photos and video: Copyright © myVideoMedia