Wat Yan Nawa, Buddhist temple in Yan Nawa district, Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Yan Nawa is a Buddhist temple in Yan Nawa district, Bangkok, Thailand, distinguished by its extraordinary concrete junk boat shape. The main structure rises directly from the riverbank and displays three tall chedis emerging from the boat-shaped building.
King Nangklao founded this site in the 1830s during the reign of Rama III. The boat design was added later in the 20th century to commemorate the maritime past of the city.
The name refers to the Yan Nawa district designation and connects the site to the local community along the river shore. Worshippers come here to pray before the large gilded Buddha figures and light incense sticks in the open courtyards.
Access is through entrances on the street side, from where paths lead to the different buildings and the boat monument. Visitors should wear respectful clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering prayer halls.
The junk contains a small chapel inside the hull where visitors can pray between the walls of the symbolic ship. This arrangement creates a space that is both temple and maritime monument at once.
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