Art & CultureThailand is home to a rich cultural heritage with distinct spiritual and art lineages. Gain insight into the ways of Thai culture passed down through the centuries in addition to its more modern variations through original Art & Culture articles.
The temple of Wat Pongsanuk in Lampang province has won international plaudits for its inspirational model of community-led conservation in saving a unique form of Lanna architecture, receiving a Heritage Award of Merit in 2008 from the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) for its restoration efforts. Located within Lampang's old town area, which sits alongside the west bank of the Wang River, the glittering spires belonging to the chedi (a bell-shaped tower in which Buddha relics are usually stored), and viharn, (an assembly hall, which usually contains a temple's principle Buddha image) provide a glittering sight amid the calm of the temple compound.
This area was at the very center of Lampang around the time of its establishment as a community in 1886. The temple's appearance is particularly impressive at the present time following the recent restoration work carried out there.
On the top of the temple mound stands a Lanna-style chedi gilded with sheets of copper. Right next to it an open-sided viharn, where monks and laymen gather to conduct merit-making ceremonies. The viharn really highlights the impressive craftsmanship found at the temple, which is a blend of both Lanna and Burmese elements.
The viharn's square-shaped layout, featuring a three-tier roof, topped with a spire and tiered umbrella, is said to be unique in the north of the country. The structure houses four Buddha images, sitting with their backs against a replica of a Bodhi Tree.
The upper parts of the interior of the roof are decorated with numerous Buddha tablets, which is where the viharn gets its name Viharn Phra Chao Pun Ong ('Viharn of One Thousand Buddhas').
A sense of ownership
Late every morning, 72-year-old Kampun Suaychalad visits the temple, as she has done for more than 10 years. She visits the temple to catch up with friends in the neighborhood and to help the monks clean the temple compound on a daily basis. She shares the responsibility with five or six other elderly members of the community.
When the restoration work on the temple was completed last year, there were even more things for the elderly members of the local community to get involved in. Throughout the day, they would come to the temple to assist in preserving the temple's heritage and help visitors to the temple who are in need of some assistance.
“I'm so glad the temple's been restored and that this is attracting more visitors,” Kampun says proudly.
According to Anukul Siripun, a
leading member of the community, the award from Unesco has brought
about an increase in the number of visitors to the temple from across
the country. The ancient site is well known among
academics and cultural connoisseurs for its efforts toward preserving
the original style of its architectural elements, as well as
maintaining close ties between the temple's heritage and its local
community.
“The thread of the relationship between villagers and the temple is
strong,” says Anukul, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in
Cultural Management from Chiang Mai University, and who teaches
cultural studies at a local college in Lampang. The successful example of conservation is attributed to good
cooperation between monks, villagers and members of the academia who
have assisted in the restoration efforts. Studies into the
architectural details began in 2004 and were followed by regular
meetings among local residents and academics in order to establish the
most appropriate solutions with regard to each and every relevant
detail. The restoration work, which was carried
out to revive the original construction and decorative techniques, got
underway in 2007 and was completed by mid-2008. Funds to carry out the
work were raised through contributions made for religious ceremonies
organized by villagers and the private sector. To prepare for an influx of tourists,
members of the community agreed with Anukul's suggestion that they
share the site with visitors in a modest way. Visitors to the site
ought to focus on the temple's aesthetic values and the tranquil life
enjoyed in the villages in the local neighborhood. The community only
plans to incorporate the minimum number of tourist facilities required.
The only building that has been added within the temple compound is a
small display hall used to house age-old artifacts and decorative
architectural items. There are no stalls selling flowers, food,
incense, or souvenirs, for example.
Visitors can learn about the history of the temple by reading
information from an accompanying brochure, or by talking with the
elderly members of the local community standing by to share their
personal knowledge and insight.
“We aim for the site to still serve as a center for locals to gather,
while being accommodating to visitors as an educational destination,”
says Anukul, who pointed out that in the past many temples promoted as
tourism destinations had become somewhat detached from their local
communities.
An important legacy
Anukul says villagers in the local community are looking forward to
continuing with the restoration of some of the temple's other
structural elements – they are planning to renovate the temple's stucco
staircase, the viharn's wall, as well as the overall landscaping within
the temple compound.
While each phase of the restoration project requires the support of the
community, along with various sectors, Anukul believes that the
community's efforts are now being nurtured and passed on to younger
generations, which offers lots of hope for the future.
Anukul hopes that future restoration work at the temple will pave the
way for another ambitious plan – restoring the whole of Lampang's old
town area.
While many of the authentic teak-built homes located in the area
already win the praise of admirers, the restoration project at Wat
Pongsanuk could provide an inspirational model for local communities,
encouraging them to develop their own sustainable plans to preserve the
unique spirit of the old town.
Art & Culture 
Art & Culture
Thailand is home to a rich cultural heritage with distinct spiritual and art lineages. Gain insight into the ways of Thai culture passed down through the centuries in addition to its more modern variations through original Art & Culture articles.
contact 
sitemap
advertise with us
