Wat Saman Rattanaram, Buddhist temple in Chachoengsao, Thailand
Wat Saman Rattanaram is a temple complex on the bank of the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province, east of Bangkok. The grounds hold several large statues of both Hindu and Buddhist figures, including Guanyin, Indra, and Brahma.
The temple was built in the 1980s with the intention of bringing Hindu and Buddhist deities together in one place. This kind of religious mixing has deep roots in Thailand, where both traditions have long shaped local worship.
Visitors choose one of eight rat statues that corresponds to their birth year and whisper wishes to the pink Ganesha. This personal ritual is something you can watch others perform throughout the day at the feet of the large figure.
The grounds are large, so comfortable shoes that slip on and off easily are a good idea since removing footwear is expected in many areas. Going early in the morning means cooler temperatures and fewer people around.
The temple grounds include a replica of Myanmar's Golden Rock, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Southeast Asia, complete with a small pagoda on top. Finding a recreation of a famous foreign shrine inside a Thai temple is something most visitors do not anticipate.
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