Phra Maha Chedi Phakdi Prakat

The loyal populaces of King Bhumibol Adulyadej has raised the funding to build the Chedi to commemorate their beloved King and to dedicate the merit of making Maha Chedi which is one of the greatest merits according to the Buddhist Customs to the King in the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration (50th Anniversary of King Bhumibol’s succession to the throne). The Chedi was designed by M.R. Mittrarun Kasemsri, The Royal Architect of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the National Artist.

Phra Maha Chedi Phakdi Prakat is located on the hill close to Ban Krut Beach in Wat Tang Sai, Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Chedi is the 5-floor building decorated with Nine bell-shaped spires.

Each floor of the Chedi consists of the following elements;

The 1st floor is used as the rain catchment with many gutters link to the floor.

The 2nd floor is the multi-purpose hall that can be used to house people gathering in the Buddhist Holidays.

The 3rd floor is the Vihara that used for the important ceremonies such as sermons, Kathin, Robe-presenting ceremony, etc. The wall of the Vihara is decorated with the painting of the 12-month Royal Customs and local customs of each regions of Thailand.

The 4th floor is the Ubosot housing the Principle Buddha which is the abhāya mudrā (forgiving posture) which is the same posture with the personal Buddha of The King. The wall is decorated with the painting of story when Lord Buddha returned from the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. The windows are decorated with stained glass. There is the balcony at this floor that can see the scenery of Ban Krut beach.

Phra Maha Chedi Phakdi Prakat was built to house the holy relics of Lord Buddha in the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration (50th Anniversary of King Bhumibol’s succession to the throne) in 1996. The Chedi is located on the hill close to Ban Krut Beach in Wat Tang Sai, Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Chedi was designed and decorated to be meaningful, relevant to the importance of the present reign. For instance, The Chedi plan is 50x50x50 meters to represent the Golden Jubilee year and Nine bell-shaped spires represent the 9th reign of Chakri Dynasty. The Relic and the Golden Buddha represent the personal Buddha Image of the King are housed inside the Chedi. The windows decorated with stained glass tell the story of Mahajanaka Allegory that was composed by the King.

หม่อมราชวงศ์ แน่งน้อย ศักดิ์ศรี, “หม่อมราชวงศ์มิตรารุณเกษมศรี กับผลงานชิ้นสุดท้ายที่ฝากไว้ในแผ่นดิน "พระมหาธาตุเจดีย์ภักดีประกาศ"” ในสืบสานสถาปัตยกรรมไทย 5.กรุงเทพฯ : ภาควิชาสถาปัตยกรรมศาสตร์ คณะสถาปัตยกรรมศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย, 2548.