Phuttha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang

are located on Khao Dan Phrabat along Highway No. 212 (Amnat Charoen – Yasothon), Tambon Bung, which is 3 kilometres from downtown. The temple’s physical surrounding is natural shale under the shades of a variety of plant species that has been renovated to become a “Buddha Park”. Meanwhile, Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai is a large Buddha image in a subduing Mara posture with a measurement of an 11-metre-wide span lap and 20-metre height from the ground to the top of the halo flame. It is built in the Northern Indian influenced Pala art style that extended to Thailand’s Northeastern region more than 1,000 years ago. In 1965, Jitr Buabusya, a national artist, designed and built a reinforced concrete image to cover the former Buddha figure and decorated the exterior with golden mosaics to become an atheistically characteristic Buddha figure of the Northeast. Behind Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang features two unusual characteristic Buddha images in yellow robes, which are called according to the ancient Buddha appearance as “Phra Lahai” or as the locals call “Phra Khilai” meaning not pretty. They were found in a swamp in 1962 during area development for weir building. It is believed that the Buddha images can give good fortune for people who come to make a wish.