Suphan Buri Lak Mueang—Suphan Buri Town, Suphan Buri Province, Thailand. - Buddhist Temples and Public Shrines on Waymarking.com

A 'City Pillar Shrine' represents the tutelary diety of each province of Thailand, and most Thai provinces have an official Shrine. In Thai the term is 'Lak Mu-eang' (very difficult for a westerner to pronounce).

Suphan Buri is one of a dozen or more provinces of central Thailand, north of Bangkok. The shrine for this town and province differs from most others in two ways. First, the shrine is part of what could be described as an amusement park, and, second, the shrine does not possess an actual pillar.

The shrine structure is in the Chinese style (as is the entire park), elaborate, and colourfully attractive (lots of dragons). There is an extended, partially covered prayer area in front of the shrine. Here, people can pay there respects before entering the shrine proper, and also buy commemorative items (which I did, see gallery). The inner shrine consists of a twin gold bas relief of the Bodhisattra Avalokitesvara, a Buddhist saint who renounced his own nirvana and remained on the Earth to save the rest of humanity. I have also read that this bas relief represents the god Vishnu. This inner shrine is housed within a larger structure, which itself contains a number of Buddhist icons and images.

So I was told and read, on the day of the full moon in the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the shrine, courtesy of the local Chinese Association, hosts a large alms-offering ceremony for the poor.

There is a small housing to one side of the larger shrine. I was told that this was the original shrine.

The 'amusement park' around the shrine consists of a 'Dragon' museum (which contains images and relics from China), several fountains, a huge dragon sculpture, bells to ring, food to buy and eat, and things to see. When I visited, which was a holiday, the place was very crowded with running children, lots of mothers (it was the day after the Thai mother's day), and harried fathers.

As the story goes: a young man of Chinese ancestry, by the name of Khun Banharn Silpa-archa, from Suphan Buri, went out into the world to make his fortune and find his destiny. He stopped at the Lak Mueang, with only 15 baht in his pocket (~50cus) and prayed for good luck. He went on to become a successful business man, a prominent politician from the province, and, eventually, the 21st Prime Minister of Thailand (1995-6). To recognise his success, he had the shrine rebuilt in a far more elaborate, Chinese style.

Open to visitors?: Yes Photography Permitted Inside?: Yes Statue of the Buddha present?: Yes Related Website: Not listed

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