Wat Kanma Tuyaram is a small and lesser known Buddhist temple located in Bangkok’s China Town district very close to the much more famous Wat Mangkon Kamalawat.
Wat Kanma Tuyaram in BangkokWat Kanma Tuyaram is open every day during daylight hours and admission is free.
About Wat Kanma Tuyaram
Wat Kanma Tuyaram is a compact temple on the busy and narrow Mangkon Road. The Mangkon Road is a busy street full of shops and stalls and the existence of a temple in such a busy area comes as something of a surprise.
Entrance gate to Wat Kanma TuyaramHistory of Wat Kanma Tuyaram
Wat Kanma Tuyaram was built in 1864 under the patronage of a wealthy local Thai-Chinese family which owned a notorious local brothel. The brothel was established by the infamous Yai Fang. His daughter carried on and developed the family business, but in an attempt to atone for her sins, and improve the family’s social standing, she used some of her ill gotten gains to build several temples in Bangkok, including Wat Kanma Tuyaram and the larger Wat Khanikaphon.
Name of the Temple
Her efforts were to some degree successful as her son, Kan Sakhonwasi, was accepted into the Royal Court as an aide to King Mongkut (Rama IV). The name, Wat Kanma Tuyaram, was bestowed on the temple by the King and it means ‘Mr Kan’s mother’s temple’.
Guan Yin Shrine at Wat Kanma TuyaramGates and Walls at Wat Kanma Tuyaram
Wat Kanma Tuyaram has a prominent and highly embellished entrance gate depicting characters from Buddhist mythology. In a large niche in the outer wall there is also an important shrine to the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, who is worshipped by Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists to a greater extent than Thai Buddhists.
Chedi at Wat Kanma TuyaramChedi at Wat Kanma Tuyaram
The principal point of architectural interest at Wat Kanma Tuyaram is, however, its chedi. The chedi at Wat Kanma Tuyaram is unusual as it is one of only two chedi in Thailand styled on the famous Dhamek Stupa in Saranath in India. Saranath is near Varanasi in India and it is the place where the Lord Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon after achieving enlightenment.
Ordination Hall at Wat Kanma TuyaramOrdination Hall at Wat Kanma Tuyaram
The other major feature at Wat Kanma Tuyaram is it ordination hall which has been conservatively designed in a classic Central Thailand style. The ordination hall features a main statue of the Lord Buddha housed within a small wooden box with a roof. The inside of the ordination hall also features some very good wall murals depicting scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha.
Location of Wat Kanma Tuyaram
- Wat Kanma Tuyaram is located 950 metres walking distance from Wat Traimit.
