Boat Trip on The Chaopraya River in Bangkok - Part 4 - Wat Kalayanamit

More of the river tour along the Chaopraya River in Bangkok. The 5th and final stop of the tour was at Wat Kanlayanamit. All part of a 5 hour tour along the river for a price of 599 Baht per person it was a great chance to see some ancient temples and explore the area where tourists normally do not get to see.

Stop 5 was a change of plan and probably the best of the whole day. With being behind the scheduled time the tour rerouted to Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawiharn.

Wat Kalayanamit (Wat Kalaya) is a second class royal temple in 'Woramahawiharn' type. It is located beside the Chao Phraya river, Thonburi side, around the mouth of Bangkok Yai canal.

Initially, Chao Phraya Nikorn Bodin (Toh Kalayanamit) donated his house to King Rama III and bought the additional land nearby to build a temple in 1825. The king bestowed the name to the temple as "Wat Kalayanamit". Later, he built a royal wiharn, and also the principle Buddha image to enshrine inside, which is Luang Por Toh. The king aimed to model the size and the location of the statue to resemble the enormous Buddha statue by the river in Wat Panan Choeng from the old capital.

Luang Por Toh has been highly revered by Chinese people, they call him by the Chinese name 'Sam Por Hug Kong' or 'Sam Por Kong'. This Buddha image was made from plaster, in 'Marn Vichai' posture (subduing Mara). The statue is 10 meters wide and 14 meters high. King Rama III ordered the construction on May 18, 1837.

Luang Por Toh is enshrined in the gigantic wiharn in the center of the temple, between a small wiharn and Phra Ubosot. In front of the royal wiharn is a bell tower, which preserves the biggest bell in Thailand. Inside Phra Ubosot, (smaller to the wiharn), there is where the Buddha image in 'Palilai' posture (Buddha sitting position with legs simply hanging down, left handed palm on his knee) built by King Rama III. Wat Kalayanamit is the only temple in Thailand that has the principle Buddha image in Palilai posture. Inside, there are mural paintings depicting biography of Lord Buddha, and villagers' way of life during the reign of King Rama III.

Wat Kalayanamit holds a great deal of historical and cultural value for the Thais. The temple is open every day, with no admission fee.

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