Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple

Also known as the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, this place of prayer and meditation can be found across the road from the Burmese Temple of the Standing Buddha, on Burma Road. The statue of Buddha is covered with gold leaf, and at 33 metres in length, one of the longest reclining Buddhas in Asia. It is said that this depiction of Buddha is at the moment of his death. Here Buddha is lying on his right side and facing West, the direction of the setting sun and the realm of death. It is said that the Buddha, born in Nepal, after a lifetime of wandering Asia, finally, at the age of 80, reached Enlightenment and died, uttering his last words: "Impermanent are all created things. Strive on with awareness." The Temple is built on land given to the small Thai community in Penang by Queen Victoria in 1845. Penang is close to the Thai border, so finding Thai settlers is not surprising. This is a very beautiful place to be. The day we visited there was much activity as the congregation prepared for a religious festival of some kind. There were people in the kitchen and much flurrying. It is permitted to take photographs, even in the main pavilion housing the Buddha. Inside you will find a mix of tourists and congregation, all going about being tourists and being a congregation without any apparent disruptions. Behind the statue there are small boxes in the walls containing the ashes of people who have passed.Thai people have mastered the art of bling to a very high level, so everywhere you look there is sparkley arkley going on and a riot of architectural detail and colour, which in a sense transforms the place and creates a sense of other worldliness. All of this helps people to enter into another state of mind in order to pray. When you enter any of the pavilions you must take off your shoes. They are always where you left them, so don't worry. This is definitely a photo shoot event, so take your camera. Nobody minds you taking as many photos as you like. When you are done, you can wander across the road and do the whole thing again in a Burmese environment in the Temple of the Standing Buddha.

The temple has not changed overmuch since I visited when I was stationed here in the late 1960's. There is still the same ambience of peace and tranquiliity. The grounds have changed very little except for the small temple on the righthand side of the car park. This temple is well worth a visit.

calm and windy temple, all r speaking in thai i guess.. gud place to have an idea about what other cultures traditions.

Also known as the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, this place of prayer and meditation can be found across the road from the Burmese Temple of the Standing Buddha, on Burma Road. The statue of Buddha is covered with gold leaf, and at 33 metres in length, one of the longest reclining Buddhas in Asia. It is said that this depiction of Buddha is at the moment of his death. Here Buddha is lying on his right side and facing West, the direction of the setting sun and the realm of death. It is said that the Buddha, born in Nepal, after a lifetime of wandering Asia, finally, at the age of 80, reached Enlightenment and died, uttering his last words: