| Wat Chalong, Phuket It is not known when Wat Chalong was first built, but records show it was rebuilt and relocated in 1837. There is evidence of the early temple -- the remains of a wall -- on site. In 1876 Chalong was home to the Ang Yee rebellion, during which migrant Chinese tin mine workers rioted across Phuket to protest working conditions Wat Chalong is officially called Wat Chaitararam by royal decree but not many people use that name. Located in the northern part of Tambol Chalong ( tambol means sub district in Thailand) on Chao Fa West Rd, the Wat is close to many local attractions. The name Chalong means festival in Thai - many years ago the area was named Chalang after locals, fearing Burmese invaders, had moved from Thalang district. However, the Thai government pointed out that no such word existed in the Thai language and ordered local officials to change the name. There are six buildings at Wat Chalong: the Sala, the Mondop, the Ubosot, the Viharn, the Chedi and the Crematorium. The statue of Luang Por Chaem can be found in the Mondop, where offerings are given. The Chedi is the main building at 61 meters high. It contains paintings of Buddha's life and his teachings, and at the top there is a display which contains a relic -- a fragment of the Buddha's bone, which was brought to the temple from Sri Lanka in 1999. Poh Than Jao Wat is one of the more important Buddhist statues in Wat Chalong. It is located in the westerly old hall of the temple, with two ... |
