Wat Chetawan, Thai Buddhist temple in Petaling District, Malaysia
Wat Chetawan is a Thai Buddhist temple in Petaling District featuring a gilded main shrine decorated with colored glass tiles and multiple Buddha statues arranged in rows. The grounds include monk quarters, meditation halls, and ceremonial spaces designed for religious and cultural activities.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand officially opened this temple in 1962 during a state visit, marking its significance in Thai-Malaysian relations. The shrine preserves Buddha relics discovered in Piprahwa, India in 1898, linking spiritual history with modern diplomatic importance.
The temple serves both Thai and Malaysian Buddhist communities and offers regular meditation classes throughout the year. It functions as a spiritual center where people gather for religious observances and cultural celebrations.
Visitors can explore the grounds freely, with modest dress and respectful behavior expected in religious areas. The best time to visit is outside main prayer times when monks are engaged in their personal activities.
The entrance is flanked by guardian statues of Apsonsi and Kinnaree, celestial beings from Thai Buddhist mythology. The grounds are also known for their Naga stairways decorated with serpent figures, a defining feature of traditional Thai Buddhist architecture.
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