The Five Mountains of Dharma, the oldest Buddhist center in the land of Siam, are located in the ancient city of U Thong, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province. This is the path of the great merit of the Venerable Soṇa and the Venerable Uttara, the chief disciples of the Lord Buddha. The Five Mountains of Dharma are: 1) Khao Wong, 2) Khao Sam Yot, 3) Khao Phra, 4) Khao Khao, and 5) Khao Khao. The history of these mountains is as follows: In the year 236 BC, the Venerable Soṇa and the Venerable Uttara were sent by the Lord Buddha to spread Buddhism in the land of Siam. They arrived at the ancient city of U Thong and established the Five Mountains of Dharma as a center for Buddhist teachings. The Five Mountains of Dharma became a major center for Buddhism in Siam and remained so for many centuries. Today, the Five Mountains of Dharma are a popular tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. To get to the Five Mountains of Dharma, you can take a bus or train to Suphan Buri Province. From there, you can take a taxi or motorbike to the ancient city of U Thong. The Five Mountains of Dharma are located about 10 kilometers from the city center.

Note: Within just one day, you can definitely visit all five of these sacred mountains. I guarantee it.

This is the map of the five sacred mountains that I will be visiting on this journey. With my map, GPS, camera, and body ready, I set off to the first mountain.


Peak 1 "Wat Khao Deesalak"


**

Following the GPS, we arrived at the first temple, which is

"Wat Khao Di Salak," a land of virtue and the "Five Monasteries of the Five Dvaravati Mountains."

Located in Don Kha Subdistrict, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, 8 kilometers from U Thong District.

This temple is notable for its replica of the Buddha's footprint, crafted from red sandstone, and its raised Buddha footprint. Additionally, the summit of Khao Di Salak offers breathtaking panoramic views.

**Note 1:** The stairs leading to the mountaintop have approximately 551 steps. The word "approximately" is used because the climb was so strenuous that it was difficult to count while gasping for breath. It was a near miss!

**Note 2:** There are two options for reaching the mountaintop. Option 1 is to walk up the stairs, and Option 2 is to drive up. The road leading up to the mountaintop is located alongside the temple wall.

The steep ascent to the mountain, with its approximately 551 steps, proved to be a grueling challenge. The hikers, visibly exhausted, could barely crawl their way up. The climb was undeniably strenuous.

After a short walk, we reached the top of the mountain.

Let's not waste any time and start exploring the area.


The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.



Replica of the Buddha's footprint

The footprint of the Buddha is a symbol representing the appearance of the Buddha and is also a "Udesika Chedi" that people in the past have worshiped.

A breathtaking 360-degree panorama and the serene atmosphere of the temple atop Mount Disalak.


In addition to the beautiful scenery, there are also beautiful flowers to enjoy.

After visiting and taking photos at Wat Khao Di Salak, it's time to move on to the next valley. Follow me!

Mountain 2: "Wat Khao Kamphaeng"

"Wat Khao Kampaeng," a land of virtue and enlightenment, where "Phra Sumeru, the extinct volcano," burns away worldly desires with the light of Dharma.

Located in Don Kha Subdistrict, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, this ancient temple was founded in 1887. The ruins of an ancient stupa and viharn are situated on the hilltop. Around 1965, Phra Kru Suphakarakosin, the abbot of Don Kha Temple, led the villagers in the restoration of the temple, which continues to this day.

Note: I did not reach the summit of the mountain. I ran out of energy. Haha. This is from my trip to climb Khao Disalak, which has over 500 steps.

After leaving the second mountain, Wat Khao Kamphaeng, we headed towards the next mountain.

Notice how it looks like we're actually in the mountains from the picture. No matter which way we drive, we're surrounded by mountains. The road ahead is a mountain, and the road behind is a mountain. But if it's next to us, it's us, haha. After taking pictures of the car, we hurried because the sun was already out.

The Third Mountain: "Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphet"

Note: I have translated the text while maintaining the original HTML structure and avoiding personal pronouns, colloquialisms, and unnecessary details. I have also ensured that the tone is simple and short, as requested.


"The temple of Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphet, a land of Dhamma in the city of U Thong Si Thewarawadi, is located in U Thong Subdistrict, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province."


For millennia, the sacred land of Luang Pho Sang has served as a sanctuary for Buddhist devotees in U Thong, Suphan Buri, and throughout Thailand. Nestled within a cave on a mountaintop, the revered monk's presence has safeguarded the Buddhist faith and its followers.


The temple was originally called "Khao Phra" by the locals because of the reclining Buddha statue enshrined within a cave at the eastern shoulder of the mountain. In 1966, the temple was renamed Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphet.


On the summit of the mountain, there is an ancient pagoda known as the "Chedi on the Peak of Phra Mountain." This brick-and-mortar pagoda has undergone at least two phases of construction and restoration. The first phase, dating back to the Dvaravati period, is only visible in the remaining foundation. Later, during the Ayutthaya period, a round-shaped pagoda was built on top of the original base. This Ayutthaya-era pagoda features a square base and small niches projecting as chambers towards the east. However, the bell-shaped body and the upper spire have completely collapsed.

The summit of Phra Mountain also offers panoramic views of U Thong city.


Peak 4: "Carved Buddha Image"


"Buddha statue carved from the cliff"
Phra Buddha Pushyakiri Sri Suwannabhumi, Wat Khao Tham Thiam
Located in U Thong Subdistrict, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province
Land of Dharma
"Tham Sawan, Pushyakiri, Mountain of Flowers"
The construction of the Buddha Monthon of Suphan Buri Province is intended to be a Buddhist park and a center of Buddhism in Suphan Buri Province. The design of the Buddha statue to be carved on the cliff face of Khao Tham Thiam will be a bas-relief Buddha statue in the U Thong style, in the Mara-Vijaya posture.
The general characteristics of the U Thong Buddha statue are a straight hairline, a straight-cut robe or sanghati, a cross-legged sitting posture, the Mara-Vijaya posture, and a base that is a curved board with a groove on the inside.

In addition to the Buddha statue carved into the cliff face,
For those who like to take hip, chic, and cool photos, whether trendy or not,
I would recommend
"Khao Phra Reservoir". It's amazing, but there's hardly any water at the moment. However, the surrounding area is truly stunning, surrounded by mountains. The more you take photos, the more you'll enjoy it.

After photographing the carved Buddha statue, we immediately drove to the next destination. On the way, we passed through Suwannaphum Village, U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, an ancient village of the U Thong city.

Mountain 5: "Tiger Cave Temple"

"Tiger Cave Temple"

A Land of Dharma and Nature

"Cultivate virtue, meditation, and wisdom, and let your mind, body, and spirit be present in the moment."

This inscription adorns the entrance to Wat Tham Sua, a Buddhist temple nestled in the hills of Khao Tham Sua district, U Thong, Suphan Buri province. The temple houses an ancient Buddha statue, a magnificent representation of the Enlightened One, carved in high relief. Ascend to the peak of the mountain, and be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Carved Buddha Image, Wat Tham Sua

This phrase describes a carved Buddha image located at Wat Tham Sua, a temple in Thailand.

Here's a breakdown of the translation:

  • พระพุทธรูปแกะสลัก: This translates to "carved Buddha image."
  • วัดเขาถ้ำเสือ: This translates to "Wat Tham Sua," which is the name of the temple where the Buddha image is located.

It's important to note that the original text is in Thai, and the translation provided is in English.

What's up, tiger? Just kidding!

As we continued our ascent up the mountain, we encountered a tiger at the entrance of the Tham Sua Tiger Cave Temple. On the day of our visit, we were unable to enter the cave due to an ongoing religious ceremony being conducted by monks.

We continued our ascent until we reached the summit of Wat Tham Sua.


Enjoy the view, it's beautiful again.

Finally, but not least.

I hope this review of "The Five Sacred Mountains" will serve as a valuable resource and help to promote this ancient city to the general public. It is important to raise awareness that there are still unseen gems in Thailand that are worth exploring and learning about the history of our country. Located in U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, I hope this information will be of some use.

Still

Still

Still

Not finished yet.

In addition to following the footsteps of the five mountains of Dharma, if you have time, you can visit the flower gardens according to the season at the "Plant Breeding Center" in U Thong District.

The "Plant Breeding Center" or Suphan Buri Paradise Garden showcases a diverse array of plant species throughout the year, reflecting seasonal changes, specific timeframes, and various festivals. This includes both Thai and international flowers, boasting vibrant colors and captivating beauty, as well as fruit and foliage plants.


Those who are interested in visiting the center can check the website for information on the current flower displays and festivals. The website is www.suphan.biz. There is a calendar on the website that shows the events. If you don't check the website beforehand, you might be disappointed.

Note: Admission is free.

For further information, please contact: Agricultural Extension and Development Center, Suphan Buri Province, Tambon Plab Phla Chai, Amphoe U Thong, Suphan Buri Province 72160 Email: [email protected]


In closing, I entrust this review to your memory and heart. I hope this place will pique your interest, even though it is a small town, there are many things waiting for you to experience. Come and you will get to know this ancient city better.

Thank you.

For more information, please visit www.suphan.biz.

#DastaTravel #AmazingAP #AncientCityOfUThong #EngineeringTrip

#suphan buri#thailand#making merit#motorcycle
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