Wat Pa Pu Khon (วัดป่าภก้อน)

[parrot]

We finally visited this site yesterday.....about a 300km roundtrip from K. 18. The temple occupies several thousand rai of forested land in the Nahm Som Park reserve. Lots of trees, varieties of bamboo, and steep hills lead to the top of the range where the temple is situated. The massive statue is carved out of 43 blocks of Italian marble, each block weighing 15-25 tons. The head is carved out of a single block weighing about 50 tons. If someone told me the statue was carved in a 3D printer, I'd be impressed, but I'm more impressed knowing someone probably took hammer and chisel to the marble. I saw the Pieta in NYC in 1964 and even then, as a young teenager, there was something awe-inspiring at seeing it in person. I felt the same way seeing the white marble statue yesterday.
The roads from Udon to the temple are all well-paved....an easy drive all the way. There were not many people there when we visited.....Friday, workday, school day .....that's why we went.

[MusicalBars]

great to think of how much that italian marble will have cost instead of going to the poor and needy not just blaming budhism all are the same you dont need gold or marble to worship

[tamada]

Not a big temple buff but we visited this one about 2 years back and it was one of the nicer ones. If I go again, I will bring my own pakamah as the ones they have are scandalously short for a 6'4" Jockinese.

I also discovered Nayung coffee at the restaurant upstairs and have been a fan ever since.

[Udon Map]

great to think of how much that italian marble will have cost instead of going to the poor and needy not just blaming budhism all are the same you dont need gold or marble to worship

I went a few years ago. IIRC the entire place was privately paid for by one wealthy woman.

[saint]

I loved the place , dispite it being a bit of a ball ache to get to . However it appears to have turned into a right money spinning tourist trap , a bit like Kham Chanute .

[parrot]

great to think of how much that italian marble will have cost instead of going to the poor and needy not just blaming budhism all are the same you dont need gold or marble to worship

I went a few years ago. IIRC the entire place was privately paid for by one wealthy woman.

Khun Mae Piyawan Veerawan Ubasika คุณแม่ปิยวรรณ วีรวรรณ. She was wealthy. She played a big role in getting the government to donate the forest land and I'm guessing she paid out a chunk of change. But none of the literature that I've read mentions an amount.
As for tourist draw....well, of course it is.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Thanks for mentioning this wat, Khun Parrot, I plan to visit in the next month or two.

[FrazeeDK]

nice place, big tourist draw, not too far from Udon and for most of the way the roads are quite good until you get to Nam Som/Na Yung area and they go winding up through the hills. Best to NOT go on a weekend or Thai holiday since the tourist coach buses will be jamming the road up through the hills for about the last 25km. Across the valley from the Temple area is the Nam Som Na Yung national park which has some good waterfalls and a concrete path up the side of the ridge that's a bear to climb for an older geezer but good views of the various falls.
Phu Pa Kon:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wat+P ... 02.1181706

Nam Som/Na Yung park:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wat+P ... 02.1181706