Wat Jong Klang

Wat Jong Klang stands beside Wat Jong Kham at the lake in central Mae Hong Son. The two temples share a compound and are typically visited together. Wat Jong Klang is the older of the two — it began as a rest pavilion for monks on pilgrimage — and is distinguished by its collection of Burmese carved wooden dolls (tukata) and glass paintings inside the main bot.

The tukata collection, depicting characters from Jataka tales, is one of the more unusual religious art collections in northern Thailand. The dolls are finely detailed and range in size from small figurines to near life-size pieces. The glass paintings, vivid with gold leaf and bright colors, cover the walls of an inner chamber. The temple is open to visitors during daylight hours; modest dress is required.

things to do sight
A story
The carved wooden dolls (tukata) inside Wat Jong Klang were made in Burma and brought to Mae Hong Son in the 19th century. They depict characters from the Jataka tales — the 547 stories of the Buddha's previous lives — and are carved in the exaggerated, expressive style typical of Burmese theatrical art. Among them are demons, deities, humans, and animals at various stages of the narrative. The glass paintings alongside them were made by Burmese artisans as well and show a similar blend of Buddhist cosmology and everyday life.