Wat Lat Phrao + Guan Yin Bodhisattva Hall + Central Festival Eastville (4 hours)

Description

Wat Lat Phrao

Originally built as a monastery in the 1830’s, this temple is a must see for those who want to visit an ornate Thai temple in a very local setting. The first thing that will strike you are the 3 large gold coloured Giant Standing Buddha statues located on the veranda of the main temple.
Inside, the temple is filled with a variety of gold coloured Buddha statues in different poses according to Thai tradition. It also includes the most important aspect about the temple – Lord Buddha’s relics brought from Sri Lanka to be enshrined in its Daowadung Pagoda.
Not to be missed are the huge traditional gongs and bells located along the outside passageways. The annex building situated right in front of the main temple, also features beautiful motifs and architecture well worth a visit.

 

 

Guan Yin Bodhisattva Hall

Guan Yin is the Chinese name for a Bodhisattva (‘an enlightened being’) called Avalokitesvara in Mahayana Buddhism. This temple’s construction was inspired by a traditional Chinese belief that Guan Yin, which is said to represent compassion, travelled to a ‘deserted land’ and called for a large shrine featuring 10,000 Buddha images to be constructed.

A five-story building known as the Dragon Hall features images of the Eight Immortals, along with 108 dragon figures. The hall also has a prayer area surrounded by 99 large bells and numerous deities for those seeking good luck, wealth and fame.

A pagoda was named Phra Maha Chedi Phra Phutthachao Muen Phra Ong (‘the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas’) features colourful, Chinese-style murals depicting the lives the Lord Buddha and Guan Yin. There are four 8.3-meter-tall images of Guan Yin, each facing a different direction, and with each figure featuring 20 faces and 1,000 hands crafted from Chinese sandalwood and coated in real gold.

The pagoda sits within a large garden that also hosts hundreds of white marble images of the Lord Buddha, Guan Yin, and other Chinese deities. Among the most important images are Guan Yin figures in 108 postures, the ‘Four Guardians of the Four Compass Directions’ and the ‘Eight Immortals’.

Guests have the option of returning to Barefeet Resort, or being dropped at Central Festival Eastville after the trip. Taxis are easily available from the department store back to the resort.

 

Central Festival Eastville

This mall is built in the concept of ‘Bangkok Escape’ inspired by lifestyle districts in the artistic metropolis from various countries around the world. It is divided into 2 zones, which are the open space zone, and an indoor mall zone. The open space zone offers a feel of the outdoors with natural trees and water features to chill and relax in an urban escape. The indoor zone offers a wide variety of food and shopping options in a truly modern design and well decorated mall.