Golden Swan Temple

Wat Sa Long Ruea

By Grant Cameron

June 5^th, 2018

Thailand's Swan Lake?

Roughly 45 kms south of Suphanburi, driving along a 2 lane Thai highway, one spots a large Buddha image and fairly close to it, a rather sleek and elegant long necked bird's head, rising above the roofs of shophouses, factories and petrol stations.

Seeing large Buddha images as one drives around in Thailand is not altogether unusual, but what was this other object? Closer inspection was called for.

Wat Sa Long Ruea

We turned into the entrance of what was Wat Sa Long Ruea (สระลงเรือ) and the first object we saw was the 32 metre high Buddha straight ahead of us. There were very few tourists, certainly no foreigners, and as such we quickly became the focus of a group of Thai ladies out for the day.

Group Photo

Seeing me with my camera, they wanted me to take their photograph, and several minutes were taken to get themselves organised into the pose they wanted. Next, they wanted me in their photographs, in the group and individually with each one - all good natured fun and laughter with the giant Buddha watching on.

Phra Somdet Phuthachan

The statue represents one of Thailand's most revered monks from the Rattanakosin period, Phra Somdet Buddhacarya (Toh Brahmaramsi), who, from 1927, pressed for the restoration of this temple after its almost 150 year abandonment.

The temple truly is in a rural setting, as this overview shows.

Golden Swan

And the elegant long necked bird's head? It was the prow of the world's largest Suphannahong boat, but more of that shortly.

From the air we can see on the right a Phra Rahu, the "cut-off head of an Asura, that swallows the sun and causes eclipses" according to Hindu tradition, and otherwise known as the God of Fate. In Thailand it is believed Rahu will devour all your bad luck and spit out good luck and fortune to you if you pray or make offerings to it.

Phra Rahu, black Buddha

พระราหู or "Phra Rahu" is the mythical god of darkness, shown in the photograph eating the sun. But look, the sun has an opening, and a long tunnel.

The view from the entrance, and inside the tunnel corridor.

Before entering the tunnel corridor, to the right of Phra Rahu, one has a view of the majestic front length and prow of the Suphannahong boat.

The boat represents the Suphannahong Royal Barge Procession (the Golden Swan) and was built in honor of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The boat length is 184 metres; 84 metres being the age of the King upon his 7th cycle, and the 1 (184 metres) standing for there only being one King.

The boat also represents the history of the temple name. In the past the villagers used to build wooden boats for sale (Reua), and tested (Long) to ensure they floated in the pond (Sa). Hence the temple name, Wat Sa Long Reua.

Inside the boat itself there are also wooden boat structures representing the what Thai people believe which is that every traditional boat has its own spirit.

Blue Pavilion

Atop the boat, on deck so to speak, sits a magnificent pavilion, housing a golden Buddha in a blue room.

Getting There

I hope these few images whet your appetite to visit the temple for yourself. It is about 2 1/2 hours drive from Bangkok, but fairly close to Suphanburi to make it a worthwhile day trip from Bangkok to take in the Dragon Descendant's Museum and other Suphanburi features.