Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
Wat Chaloem Prakiat and Ban Sao Nak
After my visit to Phayao for a meeting about maps I decided to head back to Chiangmai via Lampang in order to visit an old friend whom I had not seen for some time. At the same time I would have an opportunity to have a quick look at Wat Chalerm Prakiat as well as visit "Ban Sao Nak" in Lampang.
Wat Chaloem Prakiat or Wat Chaloem Phrakiat Phrachomklao Rachanuson also known as "the mountaintop temple" is a new temple complex built on a mountain range west of Chae Hom. To be honest, I am not sure what the correct name is as banners at the lower part of the temple showed the name to be "Prabahphuphadang Temple" but, as road signs near the temple indicated it to be Wat Chaloem Prakiat, I'll stick with that name.
Unfortunately, when I got close to Chae Hom where Wat Chalerm Prakiat is located it did not look good as parts of the temple complex on top of the mountain was partly obscured by clouds so I decided to have a look first at the part of the temple located near the road and hope that by the time I had seen that part, the sky would have cleared. This is also the place where you need to park your vehicle as the only way to reach the section of the temple built on top of the mountain is by transport provided by the temple (100 Baht per person)
The map below shows the location of the temple complex in relation to Rd 1035 - North goes to Wang Nuea and Phayao (Rd 1035 and Rd. 120), south goes to Lampang (Rd. 1035) and west goes to Chiangmai (Rd. 1252 and Rd 118). The green line is my GPS track while the cyan colored line is the track up to part of the temple on top of the mountain (only accessible with transport arranged by the temple - 100 Baht for a trip which includes going up and down - you may have to wait for some time as the drivers only leave when their vehicle is full)
Just some pictures of the buildings at the lower part of the temple (Wat Prachomklao Rachanusorn at the map). On the right a new structure at the car park, in the center the Phra Somphratana Holy Hall and on the left Wat Chaloem Prakiat and the Stupa
The Phra Somphratana Holy Hall
Wat Chaloem Prakiat and the Stupa
The views from Wat Chaloem Prakiat
This cat has found a safe place to take a nap
Phra Phairi Phinat Ong Yai which is located close to the main parking area with restaurants, etc.
The top of the mountain completely covered by clouds so going up to the "temple on the mountaintop" did not make much sense and I decided to keep that part of the temple for another time
On a good day these might be the views from the top part of the temple (photo copyright tuch-p-max@hotmail.com shown on Google Earth) - maybe something for our drone pilot on his next trip.
Ban Sao Nak
Once in Lampang I went to Ban Sao Nak or the house with many pillars. The house was built in 1895 by Ming Chan Ong and Khun Mook Chandraviroj. You can find it at 6 Ratwattana Rd., Ta-Ma-O in Lampang and it is open everyday from 10 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon (coordinates N18.29429 E99.50815). The entry fee is 50 Baht which includes a soft-drink.
After my visit to Phayao for a meeting about maps I decided to head back to Chiangmai via Lampang in order to visit an old friend whom I had not seen for some time. At the same time I would have an opportunity to have a quick look at Wat Chalerm Prakiat as well as visit "Ban Sao Nak" in Lampang.
Wat Chaloem Prakiat or Wat Chaloem Phrakiat Phrachomklao Rachanuson also known as "the mountaintop temple" is a new temple complex built on a mountain range west of Chae Hom. To be honest, I am not sure what the correct name is as banners at the lower part of the temple showed the name to be "Prabahphuphadang Temple" but, as road signs near the temple indicated it to be Wat Chaloem Prakiat, I'll stick with that name.
Unfortunately, when I got close to Chae Hom where Wat Chalerm Prakiat is located it did not look good as parts of the temple complex on top of the mountain was partly obscured by clouds so I decided to have a look first at the part of the temple located near the road and hope that by the time I had seen that part, the sky would have cleared. This is also the place where you need to park your vehicle as the only way to reach the section of the temple built on top of the mountain is by transport provided by the temple (100 Baht per person)
The map below shows the location of the temple complex in relation to Rd 1035 - North goes to Wang Nuea and Phayao (Rd 1035 and Rd. 120), south goes to Lampang (Rd. 1035) and west goes to Chiangmai (Rd. 1252 and Rd 118). The green line is my GPS track while the cyan colored line is the track up to part of the temple on top of the mountain (only accessible with transport arranged by the temple - 100 Baht for a trip which includes going up and down - you may have to wait for some time as the drivers only leave when their vehicle is full)
Just some pictures of the buildings at the lower part of the temple (Wat Prachomklao Rachanusorn at the map). On the right a new structure at the car park, in the center the Phra Somphratana Holy Hall and on the left Wat Chaloem Prakiat and the Stupa
The Phra Somphratana Holy Hall
Wat Chaloem Prakiat and the Stupa
The views from Wat Chaloem Prakiat
This cat has found a safe place to take a nap
Phra Phairi Phinat Ong Yai which is located close to the main parking area with restaurants, etc.
The top of the mountain completely covered by clouds so going up to the "temple on the mountaintop" did not make much sense and I decided to keep that part of the temple for another time
On a good day these might be the views from the top part of the temple (photo copyright tuch-p-max@hotmail.com shown on Google Earth) - maybe something for our drone pilot on his next trip.
Ban Sao Nak
Once in Lampang I went to Ban Sao Nak or the house with many pillars. The house was built in 1895 by Ming Chan Ong and Khun Mook Chandraviroj. You can find it at 6 Ratwattana Rd., Ta-Ma-O in Lampang and it is open everyday from 10 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon (coordinates N18.29429 E99.50815). The entry fee is 50 Baht which includes a soft-drink.
