See Thailand’s Biggest Buddha At The Striking Wat Muang In Ang Thong

1. Be awestruck by the enormous shining statue

Standing at a whopping 92 metres tall and 63 metres wide, the statue was certainly built to wow! Although made from concrete, the outer layer has been painted with shimmering gold that makes it sparkle and gleam in the bright sunshine. You can climb the steps up to the base of the statue for an even closer look – pay particular attention to the long fingers and giant fingernails! The views out over the countryside surroundings are also very pretty.

The Lord Buddha is shown in one of the most common postures in Thai temples – sitting cross-legged with the right hand pointing down and the left hand resting in the lap. The name of this position is “Calling the Earth to Witness” and it shows the moment that Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment.

2. See an interesting fusion of belief systems

Wandering around the large complex, you will see statues and shrines that are obviously devoted to Buddhist beliefs. As well as elements typically associated with Theravada Buddhism (the main school of Buddhism that is followed in Thailand), you will also notice colourful shrines and figures related to Chinese Buddhism. There are deities from Hinduism, famous Thai monks, and characters from the pre-Buddhist Thai animist beliefs. Whatever your own beliefs are, you are sure to be intrigued by the large detailed and ornate statues.

3. Admire the sacred Bodhi trees

Wat Muang is home to several tall Bodhi trees, also sometimes known as cannonball trees because of the strange wooden-looking large round seeds. They also have unusual flowers and if you look closely at the leaves and you will notice that they closely resemble hearts! The Bodhi tree is revered within Thai Buddhism as the Lord Buddha was sitting underneath a Bodhi tree in India when he attained enlightenment.

4. Take a wander through the serene Buddhist heaven …

Although within Buddhism, there is the concept of rebirth until Nirvana is reached, many people are unaware that between death and rebirth there is another period – a time spent temporarily in one of several realms. The realm in which a soul spends time depends on the actions during the past lifetime.

Statues depict Buddhist heaven, a place where people aspire to go. It is where souls go to experience longer periods of pleasure and bliss having lived a pure and righteous life where one did many good deeds.

The heavenly statues are shown with contented looks on their faces in a variety of respectful poses. Traditional Thai costumes and saffron-coloured monk’s robes are common attire.

5. And then shudder with a walk through the grisly Buddhist hell!

Gruesome and dramatic scenes are played out in the section about hell, with statues being subjected to a wide array of torturous punishments. Some people are shown frantically scrambling up a thorny tree whilst vicious dogs bay for blood at the bottom and try to rip them to shreds. Others are ferociously hacked open with axes and there are those that are having their tongues chopped out. People boil in a large pot over fire, somewhat like a human soup, and there are those who are blistered and blue from spending time in the icy and freezing realms.

Characters from Thai ghost beliefs are also represented, with two particularly enormous statues of a male and female form of the ravenous Phi Pret. With their emaciated forms, long tongues, bulging eyes, bloated stomachs, and huge hands, they really are a formidable sight.

6. Learn more about Thai history and folklore

Some stone scenes show events from Thailand’s past, especially battles that were fought between ancient Siamese Kingdoms and invading Burmese forces. You will also see unusual folkloric depictions and figures from Thai literature, such as the long-armed sea demon of Pee Seua Samut and the horrific sight of a baby being roasted on a spit – Kuman Thong.