Sampheng Market Chinatown & Wat Chakrawat Rachawat - Bangkok Thailand 2023

Sampeng Market in the heart of Chinatown is one of the oldest markets in Bangkok. The heart of the market is a narrow alley with more alleys and streets spread around it selling just about everything you can think of. Sampeng is both a wholesale and retail market and many small traders buy their stock here.

Affectionately known as the Crocodile Temple for its unique permanent crocodile residents, Wat Chakrawat also houses exceptional samples of 19th century architecture.

On the left of the entrance, there’s a stairway leading to a platform housing a mondop topped with Khmer style prang. The mondop houses a Buddha footprint.

Presented as a royal temple in 1835 by Chao Phraya Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni), one of the most prominent political and military figures of the early Bangkok-Rattanakosin Kingdom, to King Rama III, the temple still houses one of the largest communities of monks and novices in Bangkok.

The older part of the temple offers a peaceful atmosphere. On one side, a new section is being built to look like a giant termite mound or cave-like texture with a black shape on a wall that’s referred to as the ‘Buddha’s shadow’ covered with gold leaf offerings from the visitors. Next to this is a sitting gold Katyayana Buddha statue.

A two century old wihaan is in the middle of the temple’s ground. The exterior walls are decorated with intricate gold Thai patterns on faded black walls. Also featuring are several Khmer-style prangs around the temple and one has a small Chinese-style house on the wall surrounding the prang.

The temple is a second class royal temple and is worth a visit. It’s a nice addition to a stroll through Chinatown to escape the crowds for a bit.

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