A garden specifically designed to draw the mind and heart UP...
A garden which serves the natural order in an ancient and sacred forest...
A garden designed to enhance the spiritual journey and the practice of meditation...
Wat Tam Pha Phlong in Chiang Dao, Northern Thailand, is an unbelievable place to experience. Since 1967 a community of monks has resided at Tam Pha Phlong, set into protected sub-tropical forest lands in the Doi Luang State Forest, in the very north-west of Thailand, just a few hours from the Burmese border. The monks live simply and their very presence helps deter the practice of hunting in the mountains around, which are home to wild elephants, monkeys, rare snakes, the few remaining wild tigers and many other protected species. Their silent existence here speaks volumes, as does the garden they have created. The monks are also actively involved in fire prevention and control during the dry season.
The garden is focused around the JOURNEY.... the STEPS. One climbs steeply. And the garden leads UP to the cave temple above.
How many steps? 510 steps. Exactly. Numerologically significant, like all things in the Brahmin-Hindu version of Theravada Buddhism which prevails in Thailand.
Where do the steps lead? To a Cave Temple for meditation.
Notice how the eye is drawn UP to the LIGHT - the empty openness behind the images?
The garden is fascinating to look at, since it's boundaries with the natural forest are blurred... no edges, no fences, and the plantings are predominantly cooling greens.
The SCALE of those Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta - a cousin of the arum lily) is hard to convey - the leaves are easily over a meter wide and as big as an umbrella.
The colours are mostly muted and subtle... and the flowers shown in isolation to highlight their individual beauty... surrounded by calming, quiet greens of every tone.
When there is a bright pop of colour, it's generally small... designed to make one pause and ponder....
I loved these tiny prik-ii-nu (deathly hot tiny Thai chilis) hidden in the undergrowth...
The ripe chili not more than 1cm in size. Judging by the flowers, it's pretty happy in this mixed, muted, forest garden.
What I loved is that so many of the plants are NOT about flowers or growing food (which so many westerners instantly - and only - equate with gardening) but were about the shape and subtlety of things like leaf design. This one is new to me, and I still have yet to make time to identify it, but isn't it GORGEOUS?
Bromeliads were silently teaching about death at the center of life and new growth...
And there were some joyful surprises shyly hiding, if one took the time to look...
Gardens are such a unique part of every Buddhist temple, and it was such a QUIET JOY to soak in this under-stated, contemplative forest garden.
I love knowing that the edges of the garden blur into the forest, which the monks also actively conserve and protect.
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They are one of those places that put your spirits in peace.
I know a sanctuary in Argentine Patagonia with that mystical touch, totally isolated, on top of a hill, but it has no garden. They call it La Stupa and it would have been very nice to create a natural garden around it.
But it is seen that it does not agree with the ideology and the mystique of the monument.
I'm not really understanding how a garden could ever considered to be in conflict with a spiritual monument....
I could feel peaceful when I see your post.
Leaving me smiling to read that...
What a pleasant journey to a beautiful part of Asia. A land of elephants truly ecstatic!
Have you been to this part of the world? Indeed a gorgeous place!! And yes, there are still wild elephants around the back of Doi Luang and Chiang Dao...
I have been to other parts of Asia but not there in particular. Nevertheless, someday I see myself there haha!
Be in touch when you're on the way.... 😁
Of course, I will :)
The green scenes struck my heart. It was awesome. A jaw dropping viewing of mother nature. I think this place has no pollution, and is best for unwinding. Loving nature to the fullest is a kind act to minimize climate change and a safe habitat to live in. Hoping to visit your country in God's perfect time.
Much of the year this place is indeed pure and lovely - just for a couple of months in the dry season the smoke from agriculture gets caught in the valleys.
510 steps? oh that's so many, for sure before reaching the end, you will stop to gain another energy. Those people who is not walking most of the time for sure will felt so tired on that steps.
I like the surroundings and it is really cool as the plants grow alongside.
Thanks for sharing it @artemislives.
Thanks for the support and stopping by, @jenthoughts Yes - 510 steps certainly is not something to be rushed through - and they're pretty steep in places. A bit like life, really. It's lovely that there are things to pause for, like the little bits of wisdom to ponder. It was deliciously cool and fragrant, not so much like sweet flowers but more so fragrant like wet leaves, moss and cool forest plants.
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Hiya, @livinguktaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1686.
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I remember this plant. When we were young we used to make the small leaves of this plant as earings, it got a sticky resin that stick quickly when it came contact with skin.