Thailand: A full moon over Wat Chong Kham (Jong Kham) and Wat Chong Klang (Jong Klang) during the Loy Krathong festival, Chong Kham (Jong Kham) Lake, Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand

Loy Krathong is held annually on the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In northern Thailand this coincides with the Lanna festival known as Yi Peng.

Founded in 1827 by Phaya Singhanataraj, the Shan ruler of Mae Hong Son, Wat Chong Kham contains a 5 metre Buddha image known as Luang Pho To.

Wat Chong Klang, built in the 1860s, is a Shan Burmese temple overlooking Chong Kham Lake. The temple contains almost 200 glass paintings illustrating individual episodes in the Buddhist jataka tales (stories from the lives of the various Buddhas).

Once one of Thailand’s remotest provinces, Mae Hong Son is now readily accessible by air from Chiang Mai, as well as by a wonderful loop drive through Mae Sariang and back via Pai and Soppong– or vice versa. Singularly isolated, Mae Hong Son is not yet very developed. The townsfolk may be citizens of Thailand, but most are Shan, Karen, Yunnanese Chinese or Hill Tribes. The temples are Burmese in style, and the pace of life amazingly tranquil.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Oliver Hargreave

Credit:

Pictures From Asia