700 Year Old Temple Wat Tha Chai Siri - Phetchaburi Thailand

Phetchaburi is a province that is famous for its natural charm of Beaches and mountains. The province is located not too far from Bangkok, so it is a popular tourist destination of Thais and foreign travellers.

Phetchaburi is situated on the northwestern shores of the Gulf of Thailand and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west, where the dense jungle peaks of the Tanaosri Range serve as a natural division between Thailand and Myanmar. Petchaburi has many historic temples from the Khmer era and the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Wat Tha Chai Siri is one of these surviving temples from at least 700 years ago.

The origin of the name Tha Chai Siri Temple goes back to the fighting between Ayutthaya and Burma. Thai soldiers clashed with the Burmese near the temple at the Singkhon Checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The Burmese split the Thai defenders in the battle and forced them to retreat. The Thai army retreated with the Burmese in close pursuit.

The army from Ayutthaya stopped briefly at this temple to rest and drink water when the Burmese army caught up and a close quarter battle ensued. The Burmese troops lost the initiative and fled into the temple building and were eventually defeated by the Thai soldiers.

After the battle there were blood stains on the interior walls of the ordination hall that remained there until its restoration years later.

From this event the name of the temple was changed to "Wat Tha Chai" and later "Siri" was
added, making it "Wat Tha Chai Siri" which it is still called to this day.

Northwest of Wat Tha Chai Siri, there is a village called Singkhon Village. It is assumed that this village was built by Thai people and Thai soldiers who fled the Burmese army from the Singkhon checkpoint, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, when they fought with the Burmese soldiers and were victorious. After the battle some of them settled down in what is called Baan Singkhon today.

The main Buddha, image in the ordination hall is named "Phra Phuhasirirojanachai Mongkol" or "Phra Ruang Wat Tha Chai". It is in the posture of prohibiting parasites (preventing disease) or in the posture of granting blessings. This is very different than most temples because of this posture. Generally the main Buddha image in the chapels are in the seated position. The most popular posture is the Maravijaya posture. As for Wat Tha Chai Siri "It is a standing Buddha statue. Cast in bronze in the posture of prohibiting parasites (preventing disease) it is a late Lopburi period art, more than 700 years old. There is a Ruean Kaew arch in the background, behind the Buddha image. The principal Buddha image is very old and sacred and is revered and worshipped by the people of Phetchaburi and Buddhists from the past until the present day.

This temple also is famous for supplying water for the coronation ceremony for Thai King Rama V. There are many pictures of other displays inside the buildings dedicated to the former king. The temple is small but has an interesting history and is unknown to tourists. It was a chance discovery that I found it and I really enjoyed the temple.

If you happen to be in the area it’s worth a short visit.

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