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All Thailand Bangkok Wat Yannawa Boat Temple

Wat Yannawa Boat Temple

Founded during the Ayutthaya era, this unique Buddhist temple remains shipshape to this day.

Bangkok, Thailand

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Wat Yannawa, the Boat Temple.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Wat Yannawa, the Boat Temple.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The temple complex.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Another building in the temple complex.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
An architectural detail.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A decorative detail depicting a ship.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Early 2024.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Wat Yannawa and the Sathorn Unique in early 2024.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Rama III.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The statue of King Rama III.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Originally named Wat Kok Khwai, the Buddhist temple now known as Wat Yannawa or the “Boat Temple” was built during the Ayutthaya era, before the founding of Bangkok. It was merely a local place of worship until King Rama I granted it royal status and made the ordination hall known as subosot in Thai.

During the reign of Rama III (1824-1851), a defining feature was added to the temple complex: a viharn (monastery) in the shape of a Chinese junk. At the time, the junk ship was becoming obsolete and starting to be replaced by newer, more modern vessels. It is believed that King Rama III wished to preserve the image of the Chinese junk in the mind of his people.

Thanks to this unique feature, it was not long before the locals started to coin its nickname, Wat Yannawa (literally “boat temple”), which would stick and become its official name. With the two chedis designed to resemble masts, it also gained the nickname Sampao Chedi, the “Chinese junk with chedis,” as it looked more like a ship than a temple.

Today, besides the junk-shaped viharn, the temple complex contains multiple buildings enshrining images and a relic of the Buddha, effigies of Kuan Im, the goddess of mercy, and large paintings of the Loy Krathong lantern festival. In front of the “boat” stands a bronze statue of Rama III, looking proud that his image of the Chinese junk has lived on beyond his life.

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Architecture Boats Temples

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Easily accessible from Saphan Taksin station; it’s more or less within a five-minute walking distance. Across the street from the Boat Temple, the Ghost Tower can also be viewed.

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Fred Cherrygarden

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linkogecko

  • linkogecko

Published

May 30, 2023

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Wat Yannawa Boat Temple
1648 Charoen Krung Rd
Bangkok, 10120
Thailand
13.717264, 100.513796
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