The temple of a thousand steps, Isaan, Thailand

in #travel • 7 years ago

There is a temple situated on the top of an isolated hill about 10 km from my village Ban Hoy Deur in Chaiyaphum province, that is known locally as the temple of a thousand steps...

The Temple of 1000 steps (1).JPG

You won't find it, or my village come to that, on any map...

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You rarely see anyone here apart from on Buddhist festival days...

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As it is mostly far too hot here for anyone, including monks, to walk up the steps...

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The Temple of 1000 steps (9).JPG

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A lot of it's charm is that if you can make the effort to climb it...

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The Temple of 1000 steps (12).JPG

You are rewarded by panoramic views of the country around...

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And you are nearly always the only ones there...

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The hand rails of the steps are intricately carved and painted Nagas with their tails in the mouths of the next ones below...

The Temple of 1000 steps (18).JPG

The Temple of 1000 steps (19).JPG

Nagas are the dragon/snake spirit guardians of the rivers and lakes in Thai Buddhism...

The Temple of 1000 steps (20).JPG

You see them at pretty well every Thai Buddhist temple...

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The Temple of 1000 steps (32).JPG

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As you can see, the view from the top is very impressive...

The Temple of 1000 steps (25).JPG

And so is the temple...

The Temple of 1000 steps (28).JPG

The Temple of 1000 steps (33).JPG

The Temple of 1000 steps (34).JPG

Another feature of Thai Buddhist temples are intricately carved Teak door and window panels...

The Temple of 1000 steps (29).JPG

Also bell towers...

The Temple of 1000 steps (30).JPG

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The Temple of 1000 steps (39).JPG

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Inside the temple there are many colourful images of Buddha...

The Temple of 1000 steps (42).JPG

The Temple of 1000 steps (43).JPG

And offerings of flowers, incense etc. left to him...

The Temple of 1000 steps (44).JPG

Now all that is left to do...

The Temple of 1000 steps (46).JPG

After ringing the bells a few times...

Is to go back down again...

The Temple of 1000 steps (47).JPG

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The Temple of 1000 steps (49).JPG

Many thanks to Fuc, my wife's eldest son for giving some scale to these photos...

I hope you have enjoyed coming on this little journey with us, feel free to comment, upvote and resteem if you like...

The Temple of 1000 steps (50).JPG

#photography #buddhism #thailand
7 years ago in #travel by
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     7 years ago 

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       7 years ago 

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