Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon

Very Large White And Gold Chedi On A Forested Hilltop In Roi Et · Nong Phok, Roi Et

Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon is an enormous white chedi crowned and trimmed with gold, rising out of the forest on the hill of Pha Nam Thip in Nong Phok district, in the far north-east corner of Roi Et province. It was built over many years in recent decades by the community of a forest monastery on the hill, funded by donations from across Thailand, and its dimensions are often linked to the number 101, the meaning of the name Roi Et. From the car park a wide stairway and terraces lead up to the base, and inside the chedi several levels of halls open one above another: gleaming marble floors, murals, Buddha images, displays of the monastery's revered monks and, near the top, a shrine said to hold relics of the Buddha. From the upper galleries the view runs across forest, rice fields and low hills of Isaan. It is a working place of worship as well as a sight, so dress modestly and keep voices low. Few foreigners come, public transport is thin, and the usual visit is a half-day by car from Roi Et town, about 1.5 to 2 hours away.

Pha Nam Thip, Nong Phok, Nong Phok, Roi Et, 45210, Thailand

NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the chedi and its terraces have been open to visitors every day from about 7 or 8 am to about 5 or 6 pm, free of charge, with no weekly closing day, while the monastery's worship continues outside those hours for monks and resident lay followers. Upper levels and the relic shrine can close for ceremonies, cleaning or crowd control, and Buddhist holy days bring heavy crowds. The traps are relying on public transport (thin, slow and not up the hill), arriving at midday when the white terraces are blinding and hot, turning up in shorts or a sleeveless top, and leaving too late to drive the rural roads back to Roi Et in daylight. Confirm current times before relying on them.

Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos