Thailand: The rare cruciform mondop at Wat Ton Kwen, Chiang Mai

Wat Ton Kwen (วัด ต้น เกว๋น), more formally known as Wat Inthrawat (วัด อินทราวาส), means ‘Temple of Sugar Palms’ in kham muang or Northern Thai, and sure enough the rustic temple, set in a small village amid verdant rice paddies, is surrounded by tall and elegant sugar palms.

Built at the start of the reign of Chao Kawilorot (1856-70) in 1856, Wat Ton Kwen is among the finest and purest examples surviving of traditional 19th century wooden Lan Na temple architecture. No doubt because of its small size and relative isolation, it has been spared the ‘improvements’ and other indignities suffered not just by most of its contemporary structures, but also by much older Lan Na religious buildings.

The most distinctive features at Wat Ton Kwen are the typically Lan Na viharn or gabled assembly hall, and an unusual cruciform, four-porch mondop or open-sided pavilion.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia