Visiting Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple [PICS]

It is always fascinating to visit a spiritual place such as a temple where your eyes are opened and your soul is touched. That was exactly ...

It is always fascinating to visit a spiritual place such as a temple where your eyes are opened and your soul is touched. That was exactly where I had been to 3 months ago back in Taiping. The moment I scaled up the somewhat enigmatic Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple, I knew something special was awaiting me. Yep, we actually had to climb a few flights of steps before we arrived at the summit of a hill, where the Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple sits. The stairway to "heaven" had been a daunting one. Very steep and the steps were small.

The stairway to Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple

Halfway. *panting*

Aww...we are finally here.

A bell welcomed our arrival with its chimes.

From my observation, the Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple is being maintained by the Thais community in Taiping, especially those residing in Pondok Tanjung. When we arrived at the foot of the hill, we could see some Thais were gathering outside a hut. They were performing some rituals. So we started to our ascent carefully. After our nerve-wreaking climb, we finally arrived at the top with a huge tree greeting our arrival. It was really breathtaking to be on the hill where the Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple nestles.

One of the holy trees in the temple.

Being respective-fully cared.

I wonder what were they.

A pagoda? A lamp? Or is it a house?

Tiger deity.

Buddha.

My family offering their prayers.

There was no fancy carving in the temple nor was there any fancy walls enveloping the temple...wait...there is no walls or roofs at all. Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple is an open temple at the top of the hill whereby worshipers can be closer to their Gods and deities without those unnecessary roofs huh! The surrounding view from the top was really amazing.

I believe this kind of altar can be seen widely in Thailand?

The deity in the cave.

I wonder who He is.

It is weird to see Buddha sitting in the
middle of the temple on top of a few bricks.

Buddha.

Majestically seated.

Altogether there were around 7 different gods and deities being worshiped in this temple. Even though it is a Thais Temple, Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) is one of the deities being worshiped here. Weird? Nope, this goes to show that Buddhisms is faith that transcends all boundaries aye? At the time of our visit, there was no other visitors or worshipers on top of the hill. Just the five of us-my father-in-law, wifey, sister-in-law, Jordan, Jasmine and me. :)

The altar of Guanyin-Goddess of Mercy.

She greeted us with her graceful smile. :)

My family admiring Guanyin.

Don't you think this pillar look amazing. It's like scales on a snake.

Since there was no one else, I felt really, really at ease while offering my sincere prayers to all the deities. Walking around at the top of the hill really made me feel so released, seriously. The sensation of serenity seeping into my every pore, conjuring that unmistakable peaceful feeling in the recesses of my soul. Perhaps being in such a simple temple made me feel so unattached? Perhaps this temple is not known publicly? On our way down, I noticed there was an altar with a little crystal pagoda sitting  on top of it. Strangely there was a book beside it. I wonder what they meant...

We saw another altar on our way down.

There's a book and a pagoda.

I wonder what the book is about. Do you?

I will never forget Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple; Despite being relatively modest, it exuded so much tranquility that made me feel so calm. Gotta thank my father-in-law for this totally unplanned trip to this temple. Hopefully one day I could ascend this majestic temple again. Maybe I could even join other worshipers during the Loi Krathong festival? To get the directions to Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple, click here. :)

It had been a rewarding visit to Wat Deva Raja Banphot Temple.