Wat Samphanthawongsaram, Bangkok

Wat Samphanthawongsaram, Bangkok

Located near the Chinatown Gate and Wat Traimit, Wat Samphanthawongsaram or Wat Samphanthawongsaram Worawiharn is a very old third-grade royal Buddhist temple in the Sampheng district of Bangkok. Built during the Ayutthaya period, it was originally surrounded by a moat creating an island in the middle. The moat is joined the Chao Phraya River nearby. Local Thais also used to call this temple Wat Koh meaning "island temple" due to its locality being surrounded by water.

In 1796, King Rama I renovated the temple. He announced it to be a royal temple with the name Wat Koh Kaew Langkaram. Later under King Rama IV, the name was changed Wat Samphanthawongsaram in honor of Prince Samphanthawong, the son of King Rama I, the Prince who laid the foundation of the temple.

The main feature of the temple is a seated Buddha made of hollow log with a layer of lime cover. Doors of Wat Samphanthawongsaram Worawiharn are decorated with richly detailed iconography. The halls are air-conditioned - a very unusual thing for Buddhist temples in Thailand. This is done in order to provide comfort to both monks and devotees who come here to pray, meditate or join a ceremony.

Many opulent Thai-Chinese people generously donate money to this temple. This temple is worth a visit and worth spending your time.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bangkok. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Wat Samphanthawongsaram on Map

Sight Name: Wat Samphanthawongsaram
Sight Location: Bangkok, Thailand (See walking tours in Bangkok)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Bangkok, Thailand

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