Wat Phra Dhammakaya is undoubtedly one of the largest and most unique temples not only in Thailand but in the entire world.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a large temple located in Khlong Luang district, 16km north of Bangkok International Airport. Dhammakaya is a relatively new branch of Buddhism, formed in the 1970s, and despite facing criticism, its devotion has flourished in Thailand in recent years.
The temple doesn't conform to the typical Buddhist temple architecture; instead, its exterior resembles a stadium or a flying saucer perched on the water. Enclosing it are giant circular structures, with wide, gently sloping steps leading up to the spire.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple is situated on a 320,000 square meter plot of land, and it takes at least 15 minutes of walking to reach the top of the pagoda. Due to its vast scale and unique design, the temple cost over 1 billion USD to build.
The main highlight of this unique complex is the enormous dome called the Dhammakaya Cetiya, covered with 300,000 gilded bronze Buddha statues. In addition, there are 700,000 similar statues inside the temple. Inside the golden dome is the shrine dedicated to the founder of the Dhammakaya, Phramonkolthepmuni, while the surrounding concrete pathways are known as the outdoor meditation halls.
Religious rituals and meditation sessions are held at the temple daily with the help of thousands of volunteers. Throughout Sundays and major religious festivals, nearly 100,000 devotees gather at the temple. It is also home to 3,000 monks, making Wat Phra Dhammakaya the largest temple in Thailand in terms of population.
One of the main rituals at the temple takes place at sunset, as the sun is about to set. All the monks at Wat Phra Dhammakaya place a large candle in front of them and meditate until the sun has completely set, the candlelight illuminating the entire meditation hall.
Despite possessing large-scale rituals and being known throughout Thailand, even appearing on television, the Dhammakaya sect strives to limit its influence globally. The Dhammakaya cult has lasted for four decades in Thailand and is famous for its two-week retreats that attract 200,000 attendees.
When visiting Thailand, tourists can easily reach this unique temple by bus or taxi from Bangkok. Wat Phra Dhammakaya is open free of charge every day of the week. However, it's worth noting that it's best to visit on cloudy days because, due to its large size, visitors will spend a considerable amount of time walking outdoors.
According to Depplus.vn
