Wat Chana Songkhram, or Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawiharn, is a Buddhist temple very close to the Khao San Road in Bangkok.
Wat Chana Songkhram in BangkokWat Chana Songkhram is open to visitors every day from 06:30 to 18:30 and admission is free.
About Wat Chana Songkhram
Wat Chana Songkhram is a very old temple built before Bangkok became the capital city, most likely in the 15th or 16th Century although there are no written records to establish the exact date.
King Taksin Statue
Interestingly, there is a statue of King Taksin the Great in the grounds of the temple, King Taksin was the ruler of the short lived Kingdom of Thonburi for a 14 year period before being executed by the future King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty, which is the reigning royal family in Thailand. Before becoming the King of the newly unified Siam, King Rama I was the most important general in King Taksin’s army.
King Taksin statue at Wat Chana SongkhramTemple of Victory in War
Wat Chana Songkhram was renovated and given its current name, which means Temple of Victory in War in celebration of three major victories against the Burmese during the period from 1785 to 87, during the reign of Rama I. Wat Chana Songkhram was at the same time made the temple of the Mon people and thereafter run by monks from the sect of the Buddhist church followed by the Mon people as recognition for the important part Mon troops played in these three major battles against the Burmese.
Ordination hall at Wat Chana SongkhramOrdination Hall
The major building at Wat Chana Songkhram is its ordination hall, which is located in a courtyard off the Chakrabongse Road. The ordination hall is a classic Central Thai style building with elaborately decorated gable end on the front of the roof and very ornate window frames.
Inside the ordination hall at Wat Chana SongkhramPraying For a Solution to a Problem
Inside the ordination hall at Wat Chana Songkhram is a large Buddha statue installed when the temple was renovated during the reign of King Rama I. Some Thai Buddhists believe that praying to this particular Buddha statue will help them overcome difficult problems in the same way that the Thai military forces were able to win successive battles against the Burmese in difficult circumstances. Wat Chana Songkhram is a popular temple and there are normally large numbers of people worshipping there, perhaps seeking seeking assistance to overcome whatever challenges they are facing in their lives.
Buddha statues at Wat Chana SongkhramPaintings and Statues at Wat Chana Songkhram
Wat Chana Songkhram is small and lesser visited temple despite being very close to one of Bangkok’s major tourist hot spots, the Khao San Road. Wat Chana Songkhram may not be as famous or grand as the better known temples, such as Wat Po or Wat Saket, but it does have lots of interesting features which make it worth visiting.
Wall mural at Wat Chana SongkhramOne of the things to make sure you spend some time looking at during a visit to Wat Chana Songkhram are the wall murals located inside the ordination hall, particularly the ones just inside the front of the building.
Location of Wat Chana Songkhram
- Wat Chana Songkhram is located 450 metres walking distance from the Mango Lagoon Place.
