Wat Kalayanamit – Riverside Temple in Bangkok

Origins and Royal Patronage

Wat Kalayanamit was founded in 1825 during the reign of King Rama III through donations from a Chinese-Thai merchant family who presented the completed temple to the king. The project reflected the growing ties between royal and merchant communities in early nineteenth-century Bangkok.

Architectural Features and the Great Buddha

The temple’s main attraction is Phra Buddha Trilokachet, one of the largest seated Buddha images in Bangkok. The ordination hall surrounding it follows the late Ayutthaya style, reinterpreted during Rama III’s reign with Chinese-influenced roof tiles and decorative porcelain. Smaller shrines and pagodas around the complex display similar motifs. The temple’s riverfront position and Chinese-style ornamentation illustrate the broader building traditions of the Rama III era, when trade and cultural exchange shaped Wat Kalayanamit and other riverside temples.

Access and Nearby Landmarks

Wat Kalayanamit is easy to reach by river. Public Chao Phraya Express boats stop at Rajinee Pier on the opposite bank, where a short walk across the footbridge leads to Atsadang Pier. From there, ferries cross regularly. Alternatively, visitors can use Sanam Chai MRT Station, Exit 5, and head across the same footbridge. Nearby landmarks include Santa Cruz Church, Kian An Keng Shrine, and Wat Prayun, all within walking distance along the riverside. For official information, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Wat Kalayanamit and the Rama III Era

Along with Wat Arun and Wat Pho, Wat Kalayanamit Bangkok forms part of the temple-building movement of King Rama III’s reign, when religious architecture expressed the city’s stability and prosperity. Today, Wat Kalayanamit continues to serve both worshippers and visitors, maintaining its role as a place of faith along the Chao Phraya River.