Wat Chakkrawat, Buddhist temple in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Chakkrawat is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok's Chinatown district with an intricate Ordination Hall facing westward toward the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace. The grounds contain elevated platforms housing a Mondop and Prang, along with other religious structures and shrines.
The temple was originally known as Wat Sam Pluem during the Ayutthaya period and has maintained its status as a registered historic site in Bangkok's Chakkrawat district. This long continuity makes it an important record of the neighborhood's religious past.
The temple grounds hold a concrete grotto containing a black Buddha shadow where visitors can see devotees placing gold leaf offerings and performing traditional prayers. This sacred space remains an active place for personal worship and spiritual reflection.
The temple is located on Chakkrawat Road and welcomes visitors daily, with its proximity to Ratchawong Pier making boat access straightforward. Multiple bus routes serve the area, providing flexible transportation options for those arriving by public transit.
The temple maintains a dedicated enclosure for living crocodiles and preserves the remains of a legendary one-eyed crocodile named Ai-bod from the Ayutthaya period. This unusual collection makes the site a rare example of a religious space that also functions as a natural history display.
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