"I was there on around December 1998 with my enthusiastic VW' bug friend. It was start from Bangkok drive toward Ayutthaya, Ang-Thong, Singhburi then first stop at Tark for one night. Next day, we drive to Innthaanon International Park and stay one night there spent around that area. In the next day, we drive to Mea-hong-Sorn, catch on HW 108 & 1095 and stopped some interactive places along that route toward Chingmai. That tripped took me 7 days during the end of that year over the new year 1999."

Sirichai Sumatavarakul

"Nice temple."

Wasaroot Vatanyoopaisan

"This temple houses a large reclining Buddha, built in the Shan style. The 12-meter-long reclining Buddha is a stunning sight.

Wat Phra Non offers a stunning blend of Burmese architecture and Shan culture. The temple's roof, which features a double-necked, three-sided roof and a sloping eaves, resembles Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu. Highlights of the temple include the 11-meter-and-90-centimeter-long reclining Buddha, as well as various Buddha images in meditation postures and various regalia, including the Phra Buakhem, Phra Sivali, and a statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin. Inside, the ancient storage room houses Buddhist scriptures and antiques, as well as bowls, pots, and Japanese utensils from World War II. At the back of the temple stands a pair of lions, believed to have been built by Chan Kale and Princess Mia. Opposite are two pagodas in Burmese style. Inside, the first pagoda houses a single Buddha image, while the second pagoda houses four Burmese-style Buddha images. In front of the second pagoda, a large, meditating Buddha image stands in the open, uncovered grounds, offering a truly remarkable sight. This temple is another one of Mae Hong Son’s must-see programs. According to history, Wat Phra Non was built on Thursday, March 17, 1875, by Phaya Singhanatracha (formerly known as Chankale, a Shan), the first governor of Mae Hong Son, during the reign of King Rama V. There were two reasons for building the reclining Buddha: 1. To commemorate his appointment as the governor of Mae Hong Son and bestowed the name “Phaya Singhanatracha” in 1874, and to celebrate the elevation of Mae Hong Son village to city status. 2. Since he was born on a Tuesday, he built the reclining Buddha image to be the principal Buddha image of the city and a place of worship for the people of Mae Hong Son. However, due to the unstable political situation along the border, the reclining Buddha image was never completed. And he passed away in 1884. Later, Princess Mia, his wife, ascended the throne as the second ruler of the city. He built a reclining Buddha statue 11 meters and 90 centimeters long and completed it. A grand celebration was held and the temple was named Wat Phra Non after the place where the reclining Buddha statue was previously enshrined. He also invited Kruba Chomphu to be the first abbot of Wat Phra Non. The miracle of the Buddha statue There is a story that in 1934, the roof of the reclining Buddha temple was covered with quite old zinc. One day, a cowherd and buffalo boy was taking a nap in the temple. While half-asleep, he saw the reclining Buddha statue getting up and running away because of the heavy rain and the Buddha statue could not withstand the rain. The cowherds ran into the village and told the villagers to hurry and go see the reclining Buddha because the Buddha was about to get up and run away. When the villagers heard, they flocked to the temple. They were all surprised to see that the two feet of the reclining Buddha were indeed bent up and slightly overlapped. The left foot that covered the right foot was shorter. Therefore, Devotees from the city flocked to see the temple and donated money, each in small amounts, to purchase new zinc roofing to replace the old one. Later, in 1938, as devotees from both within and outside the city came to pay homage to the Buddha image, tears streamed from its eyes, as if it were crying. This event lasted for approximately six months. A few years later, World War II broke out, and locals believed this to be a miracle, a reminder to people not to be careless. In 1943, late in the night of September after World War II, a group of thieves broke through the back of the Buddha image to steal jewelry, gold, and silver that the first city lord had placed there. They took everything, but the locals managed to repackage the valuables and seal it up, and the marks are still visible today. As for the thieves, it's rumored that all met certain misfortunes. True or false, this is a story about the miracles of the Buddha image revered by the locals.

Thank you for the information from tourismthailand.org.
Image (Sun., March 24, 2024)"

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