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What can be
seen in Chaing Saen
In norder to
understand what to see at Chiang Saen
(or should we say '' what not can be
seen '') one needs to understand the
history of Chiang Saen and its
destruction and subsequent resettlement.
On Phaholyothin Road and next to the
Chiang Saen Museum and close to the
Eastern Gate of the fortified walls and
moat are the ruins of Wat Phra That
Chedi Lunag
(Chiang Saen)
The chedi (seen in the pictures here) is
58 meters tall. It was constructed in
1331 and modified in 1515. Inside the
Wat grounds can be seen the foundations
of other earlier constructions also made
of brick and the original viharn which
today has a metal fabricated temporary
roof under which is a Buddha image and
temple.
In the 19th C Rama 3 restored it to this
concept of an alternative and second
Capital to Bangkok. Today the ruins of
these former fortifications and palaces
are available to be seen, as are the
ancient Khmer Temples.
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