Wat Phra Pathom Chedi at Nakhon Pathom
Gringo's posting on March 15 about the train journey to Phetchaburi suddenly reminded me of the place Nakhon Pathom where a stopover was made, but which I visited myself.
There is the Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, whose archaeological finds date back to the 4th century. In the writings of 675 the name appears again. The first Buddha activities would also have taken place here. Originally the Stupa was called Phra Thom Chedi or "Great Stupa" in the ancient Khmer language or "Royal Stupa" in the northern Thai language. In the 11th century it was rebuilt in the Khmer style, but fell into disrepair again and was overgrown by the jungle.
King Mongkut visited this place as a monk and had the Lanna style stupa rebuilt in his time around 1853 and was completed in 1870. He gave the name Phra Pathommachedi to this stupa which means the "First Sacred Stupa". The stupa was built in the shape of a chedi. A chedi is a massive, bell-shaped stone building that contains a relic of the Buddha or of a Buddha statue or the ashes of a king. Buddhist temples are often built around a chedi. This chedi is one of the tallest chedis in Thailand. Due to the large "basement" with a circumference of 235 meters, the height of the chedi with spire does not seem 120 meters, but lower. This chedi is large in scope. You only notice this when you walk through the outer gallery.
Historians indicate that this stupa was one of the most important stupas of ancient Nakhon Pathom, the largest settlement in the Dvarati culture of the Nakhon Pathom area along with the nearby Phra Prathon Chedi (around 6th to 8th century).
The surroundings of Nakhon Pathom have several interesting topics for the visitors. One of the most interesting museums is the Jesada Technique Museum. Hundreds of classic cars, some antique, but also buses, some planes and motorcycles. Admission is free from Thursday to Sunday.
Jesada Technik museum (เจษฎา เทคนิค มิวเซียม) Tambon Ngio Rai, Amphoe Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Pathom www.jesadatechnikmuseum.com