Wat Chalong Buddhist Temple (2015)

Share

Wat Chalong is a wonderful example of a Thai Buddhist Temple.

I recently came across this text with Triposo - an App that I was reviewing for my Travel App Blog and their review of Wat Chalong.

"The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is Wat Chalong or formally Wat Chaiyathararam , located in the Chalong Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. It is dedicated to two highly venerable monks, Luang Pho Chaem (หลวงพ่อแช่ม) and Luang Pho Chuang (หลวงพ่อช่วง), who led the citizens of Chalong Subdistrict fighting against the Chinese rebellion in 1876 and with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured."

It is the most popular and revered of the Buddhist Temples in Phuket and also the busiest so for a 'personal retreat' it is not always the best choice but it is very popular with TripAdvisor and it is close to Big Buddha. Jamie in Phuket has written a post as well.

There are a number of different temples to visit and I would visit each one - there is one with an entire ceiling in a mural of sorts but it would need me to take time to catalogue it all - another time.

Previous Temple visits

 1) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2015 
 2) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2014 
 3) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2013 
 2) Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2012 
 3) Wat Chalong 2012
 4) Wat Chalong 2009 

Phuket - Buddhist Wats

Share

Wat Koh Sirey

Wat Bang Riang (nr. phang-nga)

Wat Chalong

Wat Charoen Samankit  

Wat Kajorn  

Wat Khao Rang  

Wat Khun Chee - สถานปฏิบัติธรรมวัดคุณชี

Wat Koh Sirey  

Wat Kosit Wihan  

Wat Ladthiwanaram  

Wat Laem Phromthep 

Wat Luang Phu 

Wat Manee si Mahathat (nr. phang-nga)

Wat Mongol Nimit / Puttamongkon  

Wat Muang Komanraphat  

Wat Muang Mai  

Wat Phra Nang Sang - part I

Wat Phra Nang Sang - part II

Wat Phra Tong

Wat Sapam

Wat Srisoonthorn

Wat Tha Ru

Wat Thepkasattri

Wat Thepnminit

After living in Phuket for 16 years we moved to Bangkok 

- here are some Buddhist Temples I visited in Phuket.

Wat Chalong (2012)

Share

This was another visit to a splendid example of a 
Thai Buddhist Wat. 

There is a number of Wats spread throughout Phuket that I have visited and there are still more for me to visit.  They play an integral part in the Vegetarian Festival as well.


Wat Chalong is a popular Wat that the tourists visit because of its grandeur and the complex architecture.

Definitely worth a visit – we love it and there is a number of shops discretely placed to the side for that drink.

This is not the only time that we have visited here
Dec 2011 / June 2009

Do you want to know more about Wat Chalong - click here.


View Buddhist Temples in Phuket in a larger map

 

A visit to Wat Chalong

Share

Wat Chalong is the biggest temple in Phuket Town. I recently took some guests to visit it. We took the scenic route along the costal road where we could see Big Buddah in the distance and at other points could see the tide splash against the road.

When we arrived Wat Chalong was quiet and milling with people UNTIL BANG BANG…….. there were some firecrackers lit and although they were lit inside a honeycomb of bricks it was loud and it was a shock – have a look.

After this shock we visited the main temple. We purchased some temple packs that contained; three incense sticks, 2 candles, a lotus blossom and some gold leaf. We then respectfully did the following:

1: Candles were lit and placed outside - showing respect to the Buddhist doctrine and teaching
2: Shoes were removed – to show respect to the sacred ground that we were entering
3: Lotus flowers were placed in the monk bowls – the lotus is a revered flower in Buddhist culture because even though it grows in mud it can be perfect when it is grown.
4: We carefully sat down and held our offerings in front of us, formed a wai, and made a wish. We watched some people shake containers with sticks in until a stick fell out - this stick would mean something to them – usually an answer to a wish.
5: Three joss sticks were lit - this symbolises the Lord Buddha's wisdom, the second his purity, and the third his kindness. I did find out that you should not blow your joss stick out but wave them in the air – however in my readings I could not find a reason……….please send me your ideas.

6: Gold leaf is carefully peeled from the paper and placed on a Buddha image – this is to pay respect his teachings.
7: We politely made a wai to the images and left the temple.
We walked around the temple grounds sampling the food, the fresh coconuts and enjoyed the ambiance – maybe I should begin to practise Buddhism?

Click here for more photographs of the temple.

View Buddhist Temples in Phuket in a larger map

Wat Chalong Buddhist Temple (2012)

Share

There are a plethora of Buddhist Temples scattered throughout Phuket.  The Buddhist Temple which is most commonly visited is Wat Chalong which is in the South end of Phuket.


So how do you pray? I have been asked this a number of times so have a look here.


After you pray and ask for good luck then have a wander around the temples and try to follow the stories painted on the walls.




If you want to ask for good luck you can always light some fire-crackers.

Then it is time for a drink - my favourite being a fresh coconut.  Once refreshed there are a number of 'market style shops' that you can visit for those bits and pieces.


Whilst you visit here it is worth wondering whether you should visit Big Buddah because it is very close to here?



View Buddhist Temples in Phuket in a larger map

 

Wat Ladthiwanaram (วัดลัฎฐิวนาราม)

Share

This is a Buddhist Temple which we normally drive past on the way somewhere but we do not usually stop at. 

But one day we did did and what separated this Wat from many others was the small lake between the temple and the main road. 

I have been told that the original was built in 1758 but was moved to the site of Wat Chalong leaving the original site empty and used as a graveyard until 1903 when the temple was renovated and we have something quite special now (thanks Dawn).

I entered into the Wat, removing my shoes, and paid my respects - which I always feel we should do.

Phuket Weekend Market - Talaad Thai-Rot

Share

My parents were here and I used them as an excuse to go to the local market.  We live at the South end of Phuket so this was a market which was only 15 minutes away.The market is close to Central Festival in Southern Phuket; take the road leading towards Wat Chalong and take the second turning left to Wat Naka.   The market is opposite this lesser known Wat in Phuket – or ask a taxi driver – there are a lot of them waiting outside!!


The pleasure that I get here is that I am visit a market which is not for the tourist - it is not like Patong where there are a plethora of football shirts, Billabong shorts and the such like - a blog will be forthcoming,


The Local market is a myriad of smells, people, ages, noise and goods for sale. There are a plethora of traditional Thai market restaurants and some are not for the fainthearted – I still find ‘insects’ a difficult dish – I dare you to have a go. I always find something amusing – I am fascinated with the stall which has approximately 150 different TV remote controls but my wife loves the selection of children’s clothes.  

Jemma (my daughter) likes to go on the rides at the back of the market - a roundabout of cars; that is powered by a fan, the train on tracks and the bouncy castle.  As a parent I was a little worried about the chaos on the bouncy castle but Jemma could not get enough of it - we had to bribe her to come off – something for everyone.

If you are in Phuket over the weekend make sure you visit go early (5 pm) as the darkness descends by 6 pm and it is not a place I would relish losing my daughter.

A wonderful outing finished with a nibble at Black Canyon's Coffee Shop in Central.

          

Local Market - Wat Thepnimit

Share

Wat Thepnimit is a Wat which I have visited a number of times over the years for the early morning Songkran celebrations. It is only about 3km outside Phuket Town and on the way to Chalong - the first time that I visited it was a stange place because you could not actually see the Wat from the road but just the school.

In the afternoons (on the empty football field opposite) there is a large market swiftly put up. There is actually a Chinese Shrine currently being built in the far corner... This did mean though that there were a lot of young children at the market!!

This is a traditional Thai Market and visit here if you wish to visit a real Thai market versus a Tourist Attraction.

There is the raw food which you may not want to see and for many will be too much.

As many times as I visit I do not know about these deep fried whole chickens - have you tried one?

I was surprised to see the fresh frogs - peeled and ready for the grill.

And then look down and see the frogs ready to be set free.

Then there were the usual bits and pieces - the handbags and the used shoes.

Then the was the wonderful grocery items - the fresh vegetables and the fresh fish.

Click here for further Location Details.