Wat Chayamangkalaram Thai Temple

This historic temple has a lighter side to it. The chief Buddhist monk, who built this temple, used to relish the local Penang dish of laksa. Keeping with the tradition, many devotees continue to bring bowls of laksa as an offering at the temple! Wat Chayamangkalaram hosts the third largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. The reclining posture is known to depict Lord Buddha during his last days. It symbolizes supreme peace and forms an essential part of Buddhist iconography. Many Buddhists deposit ashes of their deceased kin in the urns kept next to the massive idol. This ornate temple brings stunning Siamese architecture to life against the backdrop of high rise buildings of Penang. Observe the details—from the tiles you walk on, to the depiction of dragons and figurines, to the use of gold in the construction. Also notice the decorative paintings by various Thai artists on the inside walls of the beautiful temple.
Tips: The temple remains open to visitors on all days between 6 AM and 5:30 PM. If you are in Penang during popular Thai festivals, such as the Songkran festival in April, you will get an opportunity to partake in celebrations here. Wat Chayamangkalaram is situated opposite Dhammikarama Burmese Temple on Lorong Burmah or Burma Lane. So, it is best to plan these two places of worship together.