While the history of Buddhism can be traced back to the 6th century B.C, thus making the religion one of the oldest in the world, throughout the years, the religion has been subjected to numerous interpretations, thus resulting in three main schools or traditions of Buddhism: Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana. Out of these, it is the Theravada tradition that is the oldest surviving school of teaching and is predominantly followed by Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar and of course, Thailand. Given the high numbers of Buddhists residing in Thailand, it is no surprise that ‘Wats’ i.e. Buddhist temples are found in abundance in the country.
However, it is vividly obvious to any Buddhist that the temples or ‘Wats’ in Thailand are very different to those of in other South Asian countries. Thai wats are known for its beautiful architecture and as most such temples are often constructed in extremely panoramic surroundings, it is no wonder that tourists and locals alike flock to such temples, to bask in its beauty or to venerate their faith.
In the panoramic island of Phuket in Thailand, alone, twenty nine Buddhist temples can be found and the most sacred and important temple is Wat Chaiyathararam which is also known as Wat Chalong. Located in Chalong in the Mueang Phuket District of the island, the Wat Chalong is frequented by tourists and locals alike, who both come to venerate their faith or to gain an insight into the religious practices of the locals.
The temple itself honours Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Chaem; 2 monks that rendered a great service during the Chinese Rebellion in 1876. These two monks engaged in leading the locals residing in the district to fight during the rebellion and utilised their vast knowledge of local medicines to assist in nursing and curing the injured.
Visiting Wat Chalong would prove to be a welcome change of scenery from that of one’s Phuket luxury resort. While the surroundings of any Phuket luxury accommodation are designed to ensure tranquillity and a sense of peace, the Wat Chalong instils a different sense of calmness in its visitors. A resort that is designed to give you peace of mind is the Point Yamu Phuket which opened very recently, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
