Luang Phor Khun was not just well known locally. He became something of a national celebrity due to his reputation for being adept at magic spells. And many Thais from around the country came to him for healing and protection.
But clearly, Luang Phor Khun’s special abilities extended beyond magical healing. His artistic and creative side inspired him to come up with the idea to construct a massive, colorful elephant in the middle of the lake. The structure, which would become known as Hor Thep Wittayakom, also happens to be the largest display or mosaic art in Thailand. Supposedly, it comprises of no less than 20 million mosaic pieces!
The project, of course, was not cheap. It required millions of baht, but Luang Phor Khun’s fame was certainly useful when it came to soliciting donations. Supposedly, former (ousted) prime minister of Thailand Thaksin even donated a few million baht himself.
While English information on Luang Phor Khun’s creative influences are hard to come by, there’s a clear resemblance to some other modern temples in Thailand. The first to come to mind is the Erawan Museum in Bangkok, which is also a giant elephant, albeit one with three heads. And the sculptures and paintings throughout the building clearly remind one of Chiang Rai’s Blue and White temples.
And during my visit, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities in setting between Wat Ban Rai and the waterpark of Ho Thuy Thien in Hue, Vietnam. Now abandoned, the center of the park comprises of a giant dragon in the middle of the water. It’s unclear, though, whether Luang Phor Khun would’ve known about it.
While far from being the easiest place to get to, Wat Ban Rai is absolutely worth the trip for fans of the temples mentioned above (not to mention Sala Keoku) who are touring the Isaan region.