Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Merit-Making
Thai Buddhists visit temples and pay respect to the Buddha, and other spiritual lead-
ers, in order to accumulate merit, with the belief that meritorious deeds will benefit
one's position in this life and future lives.
Firecrackers
Devotees burst firecrackers to give thanks for answered prayers. The fireworks pop
inside a beehive-shaped structure located outside, near the sermon hall.
Fortune Telling
You can consult the fortune tellers who sit inside the temple's main hall. They shake
two cans of numbered bamboo sticks until one stick falls on the floor. The number
corresponds to a paper slip inside a wooden cabinet. Retrieve the fortune and ask
someone to translate it for you.
Wax Figures
Lifelike wax models of former temple abbots can be found inside a special exhibition
space. Visitors pay tribute to these spiritual leaders to make merit.
Temple History
During an uprising of Chinese tin workers in the late 19th century, many local Thais
fled to Wat Chalong for protection. The temple's then abbot, Luang Poh Cham,
provided
shelter
to
the
people
and
was
later
honoured
by
King
Rama
V
(r.1868-1910).
Tip:
Remember to dress conservatively and remove your shoes before entering certain buildings.
