Wat Chalong is the most popular Buddhist temple in Phuket

If you are planning to visit Phuket, be sure to include the famous Wat Chalong Temple in your itinerary! This is a truly iconic place, one of the most popular attractions on the island.

General information

Wat Chalong, also known as Wat Chaiyathararam, is not only the most famous but also the largest temple in Phuket. Its history began in the 19th century, although the exact date of its foundation remains unknown. The first mention of the temple dates back to 1837.

The popularity of the temple is closely linked to the name of Luang Pho Chemu, a famous monk, herbalist and chiropractor. His legendary cane, which has healing properties, is still kept in the temple, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.

Today, Wat Chalong is under royal protection and is an important pilgrimage site. Its grounds host annual fairs, public holidays, vegetarian festivals and other events that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world.

Architecture and interior decoration

The Wat Chalong temple complex in Phuket consists of several buildings and pavilions designed by Phra Maha Phuang Suchanon, a renowned Thai architect.

Ubosot

Ubosot is the main part of the temple, intended for traditional religious ceremonies. Unfortunately, it is not accessible to tourists, and even monks are only allowed to enter during services. At other times, access to the building is strictly prohibited.

Chedi Phra Mahathat (Stupa or Temple of Buddha)

Chedi Phra Mahathat is the tallest building in the complex, topped with a snow-white pointed tower. This important landmark of Phuket was built in the early 2000s to house the ashes of Buddha, obtained from a piece of the humerus. Now the ashes are kept in a special flask on a pedestal made in the form of a huge marble lotus.

Inside the stupa, there is an atmosphere of peace. The halls are decorated with frescoes depicting the life of Buddha, gilding and sparkling decorative elements that reflect the sun's rays and make the interior of the temple shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. The tower offers a magnificent view of the surroundings of the Chalong Temple and the statue of the Big Buddha. Here you can also see canonical statues of Buddha sitting in various poses and depicting the seven days of the week. Every Thai should know what day he was born in order to offer prayers to his statue.

Vihara

The vihara is a cross-shaped pavilion that houses bronze statues of three healer monks, Loung Por Chema and Loung Por Chuanga. It is believed that if you ask the idols for health and apply gilded foil to their statues, your wish will definitely come true.

Another feature of the vihara is the huge stone statue of an elephant located at the entrance. Locals believe that rubbing the elephant's sides will bring good luck.

Abbot's cell (kuti)

Kuti is a beautiful building made of natural dark wood, which houses the abbot's room and administrative offices. The original building has not survived - it was reconstructed from surviving photographs. The famous staff of the healer Chema is also kept here.

Farewell Hall and Crematorium

The main part of the crematorium is given over to a four-meter brick oven, in which not only people were burned, but also the carcasses of sacred Thai animals - elephants. Now only the bodies of the most respected residents of Phuket are brought to the monastery crematorium. They are burned in white clothes, which symbolize the cleansing of the soul from earthly sins and suffering. Farewell to the deceased takes place to calm, but not mournful melodies.

The territory of the temple complex is planted with trees and flowers, between which there are statues reflecting the life and religious traditions of the Thais. Also of interest is the pond, in which live huge carp and turtles, which you can feed. On the other side of the pond there are houses where you can rent housing for a day. Those who want to have a snack can use the services of street vendors.

How to get to Chalong Temple?

To get to Chalong Temple in Phuket, you can take an organized tour of the island or come on your own.

On a bike

This is a great option for those who can ride a motorcycle. To get to the temple, you need to enter the name "Wat Chalong" into the navigator and study the route. The only drawback is the steep pass, which can be difficult to overcome.

By taxi

This is the most convenient, but also the most expensive way to get to the temple, especially if you live far from Chalong. If you want to save money, you can take a shopping tour, which includes a shopping trip and a stop at the temple.

By songthaew (bus)

You can get to Phuket's main attraction from almost anywhere on the island:

Kata and Karon - direct route "Phuket Town - Karon - Kata"; Patong - through Phuket Town, then along the route "Phuket Town - Patong - Phuket Town";

• Surin - through Phuket Town and further along the route "Phuket Town - Surin - Phuket Town".