North Eastern Thailand’s sacred spires

Posted by paul on February 11th, 2009 filed in Culture & customs, Top attractions, Travel destinations, Up Country

Nakhon Phanom, a wonderful city with Vietnamese, Laotian and French influences houses seven main stupas that are regarded by Buddhists as sacred centres of pilgrimage, each symbolising a week’s different day. These are Phrathat Nakorn (worshipped by those born on Saturday) in downtown Nakhon Phanom’s Muang district, Phratat Phanom (Sunday) in Tat Phanom district, Phratat Renoo (Monday) in Renoo Nakhon district, Phratat Srikhoon (Tuesday) in Na Kae district, Phratat Mahachai (Wednesday) in Plabak district, Phratat Prasit (Thursday) in Na Wa district and Phratat Uthane (Friday) in Tha Uthane district.

The graceful spires radiate blessings for Thai Buddhists thanks to the Buddha’s relics they house – worshipping a stupa is akin to paying honours to the Lord Buddha. Mostly found in large cities and usually exhibiting white stuccoing with golden embellishments, these distinctive and impressing Isarn stupas can rise as high as 30 metres and each construction features its own unique character for devotees.

Nong Waeng stupa in Khon Kaen

The North Eastern part of Thailand is home to some of the oldest stupas in the country such as Phratat Choengchum in Sakhon Nakhon, Phramahathat Kaen Nakorn in Khon Kaen and Phratat Anon in Roi Et.

Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai