Temples In Thailand

The meaning of the name Wat Chanasongkram is “Victory in the battle”. The legend said King Rama I appointed a Mon group of monks to look after this Ayuthaya period temple, so it became known in the Mon language as Wat Thong Pu. When Thai General Somdej Chao Phraya Maha Surasinghanat moved his troops back to Bangkok after victory in the battle of the Nine Armies, a ceremony of bathing and changing of robes was held in this temple before he entered the Grand Palace. Thus the temple was restored in 1787 and got its current name from King Rama I.

The temple has recently been renovated. If approaching the temple from the riverside, you first pass through the shady courtyard (and parking lot) of the monks’ residential area. The courtyard also usually has a few stalls for the tourists.

From the kuti, you pass under a bell tower (being renovated in February 2003) to reach the temple compound. The man assembly hall (ubosot) lies in a simple courtyard. If coming from the river, you are at the back of the ubosot. The gable end decoration is a Naga or serpent, a special feature of Front Palace artisans. Behind the chapel walls and window frame motifs, while inside the doorframes are colored paintings. Around the chapel and behind the principle Buddha image are containers of the ashes of the princes of five kings.