Wat Chayamangkalaram

Wat Chayamangkalaram was founded in 1845 on land granted by Queen Victoria to the Thai community in Penang, and its reclining Buddha, added in the 1950s, runs about thirty-three metres, which is one of the largest of its kind anywhere - gilded, on a plinth with columbarium niches built into the base, in a hall guarded by nagas and Thai temple figures at the entrance. Directly across the street is Dhammikarama, the Burmese Buddhist temple, founded in 1803 and the oldest Buddhist temple on the island, with a quite different architectural vocabulary; visiting both takes twenty minutes and the contrast between Thai and Burmese traditions on facing sides of one road is the reason to come rather than either alone.

History

The site was cleared in 1845 on land granted to the Burmese and Siamese communities of George Town, and that year the monk Phra Phorthan Kuad founded the temple; legend says he loved asam laksa, which devotees still bring as an offering, and the temple took its present name in 1948 (Wikipedia, Wat Chayamangkalaram).

What you'll find

• A 33-metre reclining Buddha - gilded, with columbarium niches in the plinth.
• Thai temple architecture - nagas, guardians and stepped roofs at the entrance.
• The Burmese temple opposite - Dhammikarama, founded 1803, in a different style.
• A working Thai community temple - services and merit-making continuing.

When to go

All year; Buddhist festivals bring the largest crowds. An hour.

Things to know

Shoes off, modest dress, and no photography of people at prayer. Both temples are compact and an hour covers the pair. Parking on Lorong Burma is difficult.

Nearby

Dhammikarama is directly opposite; Gurney Drive and George Town are close.

Key facts