Wat Pa Mok

THAILAND, Ang Thong, Pa Mok

Pa Mok means Forest of Mok Trees. It is a second class royal temple with the full name of Wat Pa Mok Worawihan. The temple is on two sites: one next to the Chao Phraya River and the second 168 m away. The surrounding countryside is full of Mok trees. It is believed to have been built during the Ayutthaya period (circa 1350–1767). The temple is known for its reclining Buddha statue, which was transferred from the site near the river to its present location after erosion of the riverbank. King Sanphet IX (reigned 1708–1732) ordered the transfer and built a new main hall at Wat Talad to enshrine the reclining Buddha in 1732. Later the king commanded the merger of Wat Talad with the adjacent Wat Chipakhao into one temple, and renamed it Wat Pa Mok. The temple underwent renovations during the time of King Rama IV (reigned 1851–1868) and King Rama V (reigned 1868–1910).
The principal building of the temple is the main hall, which is surrounded by stupas in various shapes and sizes. It is rectangular in plan, with three overlapping roofs and triple-tier eaves. The roof and overhangs are slightly curved. The ends of the ridges are decorated with garudas, and the bargeboards have naga scales running along them with nagas positioned at intervals. The hall contains the reclining Buddha statue named Phra Buddha Saiyat. The statue is 24 m long and is made of brick and plaster. It is covered in gold leaf and appears shiny with a dignified appearance. Behind the reclining Buddha, there is a plaque with an inscription describing the transfer of the statue. Besides this main hall, there is a subsidiary hall featuring murals from the early Ayutthaya period, and a hall containing four footprints of the Buddha.