| Cover
story: 25 Apr. |
Vol.
25 No. 2 |
11
Worshipping Attractions in Bangkok |
A
trip for your better fortune |
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There is no denying that Hinayana or Theravada Buddhism
has flourished in Thailand, and the great majority of
the Thai people have been practising Buddhist teachings
for centuries. If you happen to be a religiously inclined
person, Thailand is a real interesting place. During
the visit, you may notice the countless numbers of temples'
orange-tiered roofs and their golden spires. But, hidden
among them are rich religious diversities brought by
the minorities and the European during the colonial
period. The prosperous cultural integration that forms
one peaceful nation with a deep historical background
is a unique style of Thainess that found nowhere else.
Throughout the country, there are numerous places of
worship that belong to other religions, but for now
Thaiways will introduce 11 famous non-Theravada
Buddhist worshipping places in Bangkok to you and we
will divided them into 4 religious groups as follows:
Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.
Mahayana
Chinese Temples
The immigration of Chinese into Thailand has led to
the construction of many Mahayanist temples. Built in
1871 on Charoen Krung Road, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat
in China town is probably the most well-known and crowded
Mahayana Chinese temple in Bangkok. The Thai name "Mangkon
Kamalawat" was bestowed by King Rama V to be consistent
with its Chinese dialect name "Leng Noei Yi",
which means the dragon, lotus, and temple.
Several images of Chinese deities
are enshrined at Wat Mangkon Kamalawat.
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This striking Southern Chinese style temple houses a
significant number of statues of Chinese Supreme Beings,
which are highly venerated among the Chinese all over
the world and has about 300 monks in the monastery.
Each day the temple is crowded with both local Thai-Chinese
and overseas Chinese who bring offerings to worship
their devoted divinities, which are based on a person's
specific belief. Open: 6.00-17.00 hrs.
San Chao Pho Suea
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San Chao Pho Suea or tiger god shrine
is another popular place. The shrine is conveniently
located on Tanao Road near the old town and features
the Southern Chinese architectural style. What makes
this old Taoist shrine attractive is the fame of the
Tiger God who is believed to have an extreme power of
blessing worshippers with good fortune as well as protecting
them from the evil forces. According to the legend of
the holy tiger, the statue housed here is where his
bones and spirit are kept.
Open: 8.00-16.00 hrs.
Wat Bhoman Khunaram
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Wat Bhoman Khunaram, situated on Sathu
Pradit Road, is widely known and often referred to as
the most beautiful and splendid Chinese temple in Thailand
and even in entire Southeast Asia. The elaborate artistic
value of Buddhism arts in this temple is a magnificent
hybrid between Thai, Chinese, and Tibetan styles.
A statue of Bodhisattva Kuan Yin
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The King also granted the placement of his royal initials
above the entrance to the temple and named the principal
Buddha image "Phra Buddha Vachara Bodhikun"
in 1971. Apart from the principal Buddha image enshrined
in the hall, the temple houses a huge number of other
Mahayanist Buddha images, which the Chinese worships
to improve their fortune.
A mosaic mural depicting the
500 disciples (arhats) of the Buddha
on a morning walk to collect alms.
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Unsurprisingly, in the temple you will find a number
of yellow robed novices as many young boys are ordained
here to learn not only religious teachings but also
the Chinese language.
Open: 7.00-18.00 hrs.
Devasathan Bot Phram
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Brahmanic & Hindu Temples
Apart from Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, Brahmanism-Hinduism
has long been thriving and it has had great influences
on Thai culture. Our ways of life and traditions including
some royal ceremonies are relevant or derived from the
Hindu religion. The first official Bramanic monastery
or Devasathan Bot Phram was constructed
on Dinso Road near the Giant Swing by order of King
Rama I in 1784 at the same time as the Giant Swing (two
years after the founding of Bangkok as capital). The
monastery has been used to perform Brahmanic rituals
and functioned as the centre of Brahmanism in Thailand
since then. The supreme Hindu gods Vishnu, Ganesh and
Narayana images are housed in 3 separated shrines. People
regularly pay visits to worship the three deities or
pray for a blessing from the four-faced Brahma statue
at the entrance.
Open: 9.00-16.00 (Thursdays and Sundays)
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The Brahma Shrine
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The Brahma Shrine or Erawan
Shrine in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan
Hotel in Ratchaprasong intersection is another bustling
tourist attraction of Bangkok. Many of you may have
heard about this place already since it is usually
mentioned in the guidebooks and included in Bangkok's
tour packages. This outdoor shrine housing the four-faced
Brahma statue is, I would say, incredibly crowded
with both Thais and foreigners, old and new generations
alike. Garlands, wooden carved elephants and classical
dances along with traditional Thai music are presented
as votive offerings to the deity when wishes are granted.
Open: 6.00-22.00 hrs.
Wat Khaek
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Wat Khaek or Wat Phrasrimaha
Uma Devi on the corner of Pan and Silom Roads,
is the beautiful Shakti Sect Hindu temple built in
1879 by the Indians immigrated from Tamil Nadu, Southern
India, to be a shrine of Goddess Uma Devi whose power
of protecting people from sickness and death attract
both Hindu and Buddhist followers. The offerings to
the Goddess are a flower garland, coconut, and a bunch
of bananas. The temple features the rigorous ancient
Indian art and striking architectural style that is
an unmistakable scene in the Silom area. Aside from
the Goddess Uma Devi, the statues of other significant
Hindu deities are housed here. Please note that your
shoes must be taken off and no photo taking is allowed
in the temple.
Open: 6.00-20.00 hrs.
The Santa Cruz Church
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Christian Temples
Another significant major religion represented in Thailand
is Christianity, which was first introduced here upon
the arrival of European missionaries during the 16th-17th
centuries. The Santa Cruz Church or
Wat Kudi Chin on Thetsaban Road is an interesting one.
In 1770, King Tak Sin the Great granted the Portuguese
immigrants a piece of land in Kudi Chin, an area on
the west bank of the Chao Phraya River where dwellers
were Chinese and Portuguese, to construct a Catholic
church. Sixty-five years later, in 1835, the old wooden
church was rebuilt and renamed "The Santa Cruz
Church", meaning the Holy Cross, by Cardinal Pallegoix.
The latest renovation was in 1913 by two famous Italian
architects and the church's Italian style architecture
with a reddish dome has remained until today. Open:
5.30-08.30 hrs. and 18.30-20.00 hrs.
The Holy Rosary Catholic Church
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The Holy Rosary Catholic Church or known to
the local as the Kalawar Church is another famous one.
The word "Kalawar" is a corruption of Calvary,
which is derived from the name of the hill near Jerusalem
where Jesus Christ was crucified.
The Assumption Cathedral
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This Neo-Gothic style church was built in 1897 on the
bank of the Chao Phraya River near the River City Complex.
The church features the well-preserved colourful stained
glass illustrating stories from the Old and New Testaments.
Open: 6.00-17.30 hrs.
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A statue of an
angel at the Holy
Rosary Catholic
Church |
The Assumption Cathedral, on Charoen
Krung Road, is another old Catholic church in the
city. Situated opposite the classic Oriental Hotel,
this quaint inheritance from the early French community
is among many historical buildings preserved for the
next generations. In 1821, in the reign of King Rama
II, the church was completed with imported materials
from France and Italy. With a few restorations, mainly
between 1910 and 1918 and after severely damageduring
the World War II in 1942, the Assumption Cathedral
features in the striking Romanesque style. Its outstanding
structure is a radical departure from the two earlier
mentioned churches. Pope John Paul II had visited
this cathedral during his trip in 1984.
Open: 6.00-18.00 hrs.
Bangluang Mosque is the only
mosque in the world built in Thai style.
(Photo by courtesy of Bangkok Tourism Division)
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Islamic
Mosques
Muslims are the largest religious minority in Thailand.
In Bangkok, Islamic mosques are in a great number.
However, we'd like to recommend two mosques, which
are significant in terms of artistic and historical
value. Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya
River and built in the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809),
Bangluang Mosque is unique in its traditional Thai
style building decorated with Thai, Europeans, and
Chinese arts. Still, the Mosque carries Islamic symbolic
features such as 30 pillars, 12 windows and 1 door
which represent the numbers of chapters in the Koran
and the 13 regulations of Islamic worshipping ritual.
The best time to visit is around 10.00-11.00 hrs.
and for your convenience, please call (0) 2466 6159
to make an appointment.
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Tonson Mosque (Photo
by courtesy of Bangkok Tourism Division) |
Estimated to be constructed before the reign of King
Song Tham (1610-1628) of Ayutthaya period, Tonson
Mosque, on Wang Doem Road, is considered the oldest
Islamic mosque in Bangkok. It was once renovated in
1954 in an attempt to restore the architectural style
of the old mosque. Tonson Mosque
not only functions as a religious ground, but it also
features ancient remains and relics that are worth
seeing. At the outside of the building lies a graveyard
of the chiefs of the Muslims in Thailand. For your
convenience, please call (0) 2466 5326 prior to your
visit.
Please be advised that according to our Thai culture,
wearing a proper dress is needed for entering any
religious places and some places may require a prior
notification. For further details, please contact
Bangkok Tourism Division on tel. +66 (0) 2225 7612-4
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