Many people may be unaware of this, but Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, with 29 sacred temples all around it, with Wat Chalong Phuket being the most important one in the lot. The temple dates back to the year 1837 and, with time, expanded and now is the largest temple in Phuket Island, catering to more than 2500 people daily.
The relic of Buddha highlights the temple and adds to its sacredness, said to be made with a fragment of Buddha's bone; the relic is kept in a glass case at 60 meters high for safekeeping. Known as the Phra Borom Sareerikatat, the relic was bought from Sri Lanka and quickly became an integral part of the temple, the Thai people, and the island.
Other than the relic itself, to honor Buddha, paintings, inscriptions, and more are placed all over the temple to tell the story of Buddha and the greatness he spread in the world.
However, the astonishing attribute of this temple would by far be its rich, captivating history and the many miraculous visitors' claims to experience. Hence let's dive into such miraculous incidents that are accounted for at Wat Chalong Phuket.
Wat Chalong Phuket
There have been many instances in Phuket over the years, but the following two remain the most enduring and changed the way people view Wat Chalong Phuket.
In 1876, the Chinese Coolie Rebellion broke out in Phuket because of the rift between the Chinese immigrants and the Thai people. Many were killed during the rebellion while remaining found their way to Wat Chalong Phuket temple for solace and help.
The rebellion was progressing in favor of the Chinese until the monk Luang Phor Cham, the Abbott of that time, guided locals to victory. And for this service, he was honored with the title of Phra Kru Wisit Wongsacharn by King Rama, and later a statue was made and placed a the mondop building in the temple. Hence it is known as the miraculous place where things take a turn for the better.
The Luang Phor Cham's walking stick is believed to be having healing powers, many have reported that being touched by the stick has cured their pains, and hence with the growing demand for the stick, it was put away for safekeeping away from the public eye at Wat Chalong Phuket and is taken out only during the time of dire need.
However, many don't believe in the power of stick; instead claim that the healing here happens to the century-old tradition of curing people through herbal medicine. The herbal medicine practiced here has shown promising results and is courtesy of the two renowned former abbots of the temple who were masters of herbal medicine and treating people. For their service, they were honored with their own statues at the temple, and over the years, people come to celebrate them by placing gold leaves at their shrine.
Either way, the temple has held its attribute for being a sanctuary for healing, and people all over the place visit to ask for health, luck, and wealth, and upon getting their prayers answered, they show gratitude through candles, flowers, gold leaves, and more.
Prayers Show Gratitude Through Flowers in Wat Chalong
The temple is located 10 kilometers away from the south of Phuket Town, making commuting very easy and accessible. Taxi, Tuk-Tuk, and mini busses are the preferred transportation choices that are economical and offer round trips. Just book them beforehand and agree on the price so that your travels are smooth and tension-free.
The temple opens from 7 am till 5 pm all week, but for tourists, it is recommended to visit on a weekday as the crowd is less and to see the greatness and appeal of the place, be sure to visit the site at the eight days long Wat Chalong Phulet Festival every year around Chinese New Year.
Wat Chalong Phuket is a bucket-list-worthy place, so don't forget to put it up there and check it off anytime you visit Thailand.
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