Chalong Temple
or Chai Tararam Temple, Muang District Phuket Province is the most famous temple on Phuket Island.
The temple houses the statue of the late, highly referred monk Luang Po Cham, picture upper right.
The monk led the people of Phuket to fight against the Chinese immigrants influx to Phuket for tin mining and trying to grab the island in B.E. 2419 -A.D. 1876- before the Thai Government send troops to subdue the rebellion.
King Rama V appointed Luang Po Cham with the ecclesiastical title of Phra Kru Wisit Wongsacharn.
Beside the statue of Luang Po Cham, his other title decorations are also on display, e.g. his walking stick and his painting on the second floor of the kuti -residence- of the abbot.
Thai temples have a very long tradition in terms of the structure and overall architecture. The Chalong Temple main building
looks almost identical to the Wat Benchamabopit
(19 century) in Bangkok. It retains some structure elements originally Khmer.
Within the area of Wat Chalong a few very impressive buildings give an idea of Thai workmanship.
Mosaics with bright, saturated colors and ornate rooflines glitter in the sunshine.
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