Most tourists who visit Phuket go there to relax in the serene beaches, experience the vibrant night life and enjoy all what Phuket has to offer. However the Locals believe that if you visit Phuket without setting foot in the Wat Chalong Temple then you have not actually visited the island.
The Wat Chalong Temple is about eight Kilometres from Phuket and is one of the most ornate religious sites out of the 29 Buddhist monasteries in Phuket. This temple is said to have been built during King Rama’s time and has been renovated since then.
This sacred Buddhist temple has a long history and is famous for its special healing powers. It is believed to have saved the people in Phuket during the World War II by deflecting the threats of war.
Built by adopting techniques commonly used in Thai architecture, the temple is brightly coloured both inside and on the outside. It has 3 floors and like all temples in Thailand is visually quite dazzling. The brightly coloured murals on the walls give the temple its unique character and individuality.
Wat Chalong has long been associated with revered monks such as Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Chaem, who were also famous for their herbal medicinal remedies. Many devotees, Asian and Thai, use gold leaf on these images as part of paying respect to these abbots.
The devotees are also seen setting off crackers to reveal their lucky numbers for the lottery and have their fortune told or receive a good luck charm in the form of a string tied around their wrist, which they believe protects them for injury and illness. Other nifty little charms or talismans also contains your future rolled up in little pieces of paper inside drawers etc., However if you are uncertain of some of the rituals and practices inside the temple it is best to first observe the behavior of the local devotees inside and then emulate their ways.
This temple is also a very good example of strong relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand has thrived for centuries. The temple’s newest addition, a special Chedi, 61.39 Metres tall was built to safeguard a fragment of Bone of the Lord Buddha, Phra Borom Sareeikata which was gifted by Sri Lanka and placed in the temple in September 2002.
One Patong Beach Resort you can stay at during your holiday in Thailand is the Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. This Phuket resort is in close proximity to the many cultural attractions of the city and offers the modern traveler a variety of useful amenities for a pleasurable stay.