Chalong Temple

WAT CHALONG TEMPLE

The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is (Wat) Chalong temple locals and many Thai tourists come to pray and pay respects. The temple complex was built in its current location at the beginning on 19th century around 1837 and officially named Wat Chaitararam.

Buddhist as well as many Tourists come to the temple to pray and pay respect to the Buddha by lighting candles, offering lotus flowers and applying gold leafs to Buddha statues. Often you will see firecrackers being set off in a nearby chimmeny as a way of showing gratitude for answered prayers. Local Chalong residents also go the temple to their prays will be awnsered in providing them with the winning lottery numbers, to pray for good family health, good luck.

Wat Chalong has a history of being associated with healing. Former Monks of the temple were known for their knowledge of herbal medicine and their work of healing of local phuket residents. The entrance to the smaller Temple you can find statues of these two monks covered with gold leafs that local people stick there to pay their respect.

The walls of the chedi contain mural paintings depicting scenes from the Jataka, the tales about the previous lives of the Buddha. Climb the steps to the main temple and discover Chalong Temple is most revered for the sacred relic that is kept here, a fragment of a bone of the Buddha. The relic that is named Phra Borom Sareerikatat is kept inside a glass case on top of the 60 meters high Phra Mahathat Chedi. It was brought over from Sri Lanka. Take time to walk awound the outside roof top view poit for some great local views and find the Big Buddha statue another great free sightseeing location.

Wat Chalong is open daily from 8 am until 6 pm. Admission is free, donations are welcomed for the maintenance of the temple complex. Best day to visit is a weekday.

HOW TO GET TO WAT CHALONG

Chalong Temple is located South of Phuket town and just east of Kata beach in the South corner of the island. Travel from any of the local Phuket beach resorts by taxi or tuk-tuk in which case the driver will wait for you to bring you back to the hotel but agree a price beforehand.