Wat Si Buri Rattanaram

Wat Si Buri Rattanaram or as known as Wat Pak Priew is located in Tumbol Pak Priew, Amphoe Mueng, Sara Buri. It’s believed that this temple was established in B.E.2092 as for army’s religious ceremony. The Emerald Buddha was once installed here before it was moved to Bangkok.When Phraphutthayotfa Chulalok was raised to be Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kshatriyaseuk, he and his army attacked Vientiane, Laos and installed Emerald Buddha at Wat Pak Priew for a month by the cruise. There was a celebration for 3 days and Somdej Phra Chao Taksin Maharaj ordered His Royal Highness Indara Pitak take Emerald Buddha to Thonburi (according to Thonburi royal chronicles). There is also another Buddha image called ‘Luang Por Bud-dho’ which is a sacred Buddha image for people from Saraburi. Its face is very beautiful with a smiling face which shows sympathy. It was made in Sukhothai-Ayudhaya style. With the width of 2 meters 30 centimeters and the height of 3 meters 60 centimeters. The attitude of this Buddha image is subduing Mara. It is a principle Buddha image in a Vihara next to ubosot. People usually worship Laung Por Bud-dho by 3 or 9 garlands with young coconut and then make a wish.During the time when Phra Sri Sutasmuni was the monk dean of Saraburi, Wat Pak Priew was changed its name to Wat Si Buri Rattanaram.There is no record of who was the first monk here. But it has been told that there were a monk and his brother ran away when Ayutthaya lost their land to Burmese army and became an abbot here and was called Luang Por Yai. When he died his brother became an abbot instead.How to get there:From Bangkok, take Phaholyothin road and drive to Saraburi downtown. Cross the Pa Saak River Bridge and drive pass the T-junction to Saraburi hospital, in around 250 meters you will see The Provincial Electricity Authority on your left. On the other side of the road, there is an entrance to the Siridhammamuni Foundation with a sign says ‘Golf Park’. Take a U-turn near the Petronas gas station.