There
are thousands of temples, or wat, in Thailand. Some of these vary
in style and size but according to the principles of Buddhist
architecture, the structures within a temple should include a bot,
or ubosot, for religious ceremonies such as ordinations; a wihan
to house various Buddha images and for laypersons to take part in
religious services; a Sala kanparien which is a large meeting hall
which is not only used for religious services but also sometimes
as a social or civic center; a mondop for storing the Buddhist
scriptures; chedi for housing sacred relics or images; a ho rakang,
or belfry, to sound the time for ceremonies, prayers, etc. and
kuti where the monks live. Some may also have a library, a
crematorium and a school.
Wat A Wat is a Thai Buddhist temple or monastery. In most cases it
is not just one building, but a collection of buildings, shrines,
and monuments within a courtyard that is enclosed by a wall.
Bot
The Bot (also called Ubosot) is the ordination hall of a Wat. It
is the place where new monks take their vows. You can recognize a
building as a Bot by the six boundary stones (Bai Sema) that
define the limits of its sanctuary. Bots are usually open only to
the monks. The building faces east and usually houses an altar and
one or several Buddha images. The hornlike finial on the roof
ridge is called the chofa, representing the head of the garuda.
Chofah Chofahs
are the bird-like decorations on the end of the temple roofs. If
you visit the Museum of the Emerald Buddha near the Grand Palace
in Bangkok you can see examples of Chofahs displayed in glass
cases in the ground floor and have a closer look at them. Chofahs
are often decorated with little bells that tinkle in the wind.
Chedi A Chedi (a different term
would be stupa or pagoda) is a domed edifice, often quite tall,
under which relics of the Buddha or revered religious teachers are
buried.
Prang A Prang is an Ayutthayan or
Khmer-style Chedi that is high and slim and looks like a vertical
ear corn. Many of the Chedis in Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Po in Bangkok
are Prangs
Mondop A Mondop (also called Mandapa)
is a baldachin structure that has in some temples been erected
above the library with the sacred Buddhist scripts.
Ho Trai The Ho Trai (also transcripted as "Ho Phra") is the library of
the Wat. It is usually a very small, highly decorated building. In
the Central Plains it often sits on columns in a pond . The holy
scripts and sacred manuscripts of the Wat are kept inside.
Viharn A
Viharn is a sermon hall. It is usually the busiest building in a
Wat and open to everyone (provided the visitor behaves according
to the temple etiquette!: you must be properly dressed, take off
your shoes before entering a building and behave quietly) Just
like the Bots, Viharns hold an altar and one or several Buddha
images
Sala A Sala is an open-sided
pavilion. Some Viharns are built in this style.
Naga A Naga is a representation of
a mystical serpent that according to the holy scripts sheltered
the Buddha while he was meditating. In temple architecture, it
runs down the edge of the roof, or, especially in Lanna (North of
Thailand) temples, flanks the staircase that ascends to the Viharn
or Bot. In sculptures, it is depicted sheltering the head of the
Buddha with its own. Beautiful representations of Nagas are known
from Khmer art, as found in the Khmer ruins in the Northeast of
Thailand.
Chalong
Temple (Wat Chalong)
Is one of the biggest temple on the island and is about about 8
kms. outside Phuket town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass
Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will
be on your left. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por
Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or
Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V.
There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam.
Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and
who are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by
Phuket people generally. More
Detail..>>
There
are thousands of temples, or wat, in Thailand. Some of these vary
in style and size but according to the principles of Buddhist
architecture, the structures within a temple should include a bot,
or ubosot, for religious ceremonies such as ordinations; a wihan
to house various Buddha images and for laypersons to take part in
religious services; a Sala kanparien which is a large meeting hall
which is not only used for religious services but also sometimes
as a social or civic center; a mondop for storing the Buddhist
scriptures; chedi for housing sacred relics or images; a ho rakang,
or belfry, to sound the time for ceremonies, prayers, etc. and
kuti where the monks live. Some may also have a library, a
crematorium and a school.
A
Viharn is a sermon hall. It is usually the busiest building in a
Wat and open to everyone (provided the visitor behaves according
to the temple etiquette!: you must be properly dressed, take off
your shoes before entering a building and behave quietly) Just
like the Bots, Viharns hold an altar and one or several Buddha
images 
