Monument

Chedi Phra Thad Phut Tha Phucha – Wat Ratanawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Commissioned by the Sangha of Wat Ratanawan under the leadership of Venerable Luang Por Nyanadhammo, this monumental stupa was created as a vessel of sacred remembrance. Named Chedi Phra Thad Phut Tha Phucha, it was constructed to enshrine holy relics of the Buddha and his disciples, standing not only as a physical landmark but as a beacon of merit and collective devotion.

The structure is the largest known granite stupa in the Buddhist tradition. The largest stone block used measured 2.5 x 1.2 x 8.8 meters and weighed 105 tons — quarried and lifted with two forklifts working in precise harmony. Every piece was shaped by CNC-guided wire saw and then finished by hand. Our team worked in close collaboration with the monks at every stage, with many of us choosing to temporarily ordain during installation — an act of respect and shared spiritual intention.

Once the granite structure was completed, the entire body was clad in gold-finished stainless steel — a material chosen for its lasting brilliance and purity of presence. During the opening ceremony, over 250 monks gathered in unison with thousands of lay practitioners. The atmosphere was one of stillness and significance, a shared recognition that this chedi would outlast all who stood before it.

Today, the stupa reflects not only light, but lineage — rising against the sky as a physical embodiment of devotion, community, and the noble path. As Luang Por Nyanadhammo shared, “Reflecting on our actions, the merit we have accumulated, and the things we have willingly offered to the Buddha brings joy.” This chedi holds that joy in form, carved from mountain stone and raised by human hands in reverence.

Stone: Granite Size: Largest block: 2.5 x 1.2 x 8.8 m Client: Wat Ratanawan Monastery Tools Used: CNC wire saw, dual-forklift lifting, hand finishing, gold stainless steel wrapping Purpose: Sacred enshrinement of holy relics and a site of communal merit-making Location: Wat Ratanawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand