Prince Chumphon Shrine - Pak Tako

 

Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SjuXBERVjdXpyE3LA

The Prince Chumphon Shrine is on Arunothai Beach at Pak Tako, some 55km south of Chumphon Town. Take Highway 41 from Chumphon town for some 50km till you reach the Khao Pip intersection (a Lotus's store is on the right just before the intersection). Turn left at the junction taking Road No. 4096, heading east. After about 12km turn you will come to the beach road. Turn right and the Shrine is 100m meters up on the right.

The Shrine is is memory of the Prince of Chumphon.

Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, (19 December 1880 – 19 May 1923) was the 28th child of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam. He was commonly revered as "The Father of the Thai Navy".

Prince Abhakara was a military visionary and a passionate advocate for the modernization of the Thai Navy. He studied naval architecture and engineering in England, and upon his return to Siam, he set about transforming the Royal Siamese Navy into a modern and effective force.

Under Prince Abhakara's leadership, the Royal Siamese Navy acquired its first modern warships, established a naval academy, and developed new training and operational procedures. Prince Abhakara also played a key role in the development of Thailand's maritime infrastructure, including the construction of ports and lighthouses.

Prince Abhakara's reforms had a profound impact on the Thai Navy, and his legacy continues to this day. He is revered by all Thai naval personnel, fishermen, and others in the marine industry.

 Beside the Shrine can be found this Chinese Buddhist style building.

Within the building is an image of Kuan Yin who is the goddess of compassion and manifests whenever there is someone who needs her. Would guess this has been built by the local fishermen for protection whilst out at sea.