“Another Shan temple that can never be skipped.” That is how some people describe Wat Klang. Wat Klang may be smaller than some temples. But its beauty and history are immense.
Wat Klang was once abandoned. Since 1851, it has been renovated many times. Today, Wat Klang is decorated simply. It is beautiful. Its atmosphere is beautiful. The Lord Buddha statues are beautiful. The trees provide a beautiful scenery.
Wat Klang is known for its great Shan pagoda. The pagoda stands in the middle of the temple. Buddha statues are stored around the pagoda under the shade. Visitors pay their respects here.
Wat Klang has a special treasure. It is not its chedi. Find the little building behind Wat Klang. Inside, discover a reclining Buddha. It is carved from a tree trunk. Above it sits another Buddha. This Buddha is also carved in a massive trunk. Wood carvings accompany them. Many guides forget this little temple. They do not mention its treasure.
Wat Klang is located in Mae Hong Son. The address is 24, Area 3, Pa Kham, Wiang Tai District, Pai County. Wat Klang does not have a parking lot. Park your car at Wat Luang instead. Take the same route to Pai Walking Street. Wat Klang is within that area.
Near Wat Klang, you can enjoy shopping. The small commercial district is about 110 meters away. Booths sell clothes, foods, and souvenirs. Sometimes, there is live music. It is open daily from 16:00 to 22:00.
The Chinese Yunnan Cultural Village is nearby. It is a popular attraction in Pai. This is not a typical Chinatown. It is one of three Chinese villages. Yunnan tribespeople populate these villages in northern Thailand.
A wat is a sacred Buddhist precinct. It includes a temple and a vihara. The vihara houses a large Buddha image. It provides a facility for lessons. A site needs at least three resident monks to be a wat. The term is often used loosely. It can even refer to ancient temple ruins. Wat means to measure or take measurements.
According to Thai law, there are two types of Buddhist temples. Wats are endorsed by the state. They have been granted land by the king. These temples are divided into royal temples and public temples. Samnak song are temples without state endorsement. Wat Tham Krabok was a samnak song. It gained wat status in 2012.
A typical wat includes a bell tower and a bot. The bot is the holiest prayer room. It is where new monks take their vows. A chedi is a conical building. It often contains Buddha relics. It can hold ashes of the cremated dead. A kuti is living quarters for monks. A vihara is a meeting and prayer room.
Thai temples often feature chofas on their roofs. These are ornamental elements. Many temples are finely decorated. Murals inside the vihara depict the life of Gautama Buddha.