Wat Hong Thong

Temple of the Golden Swan

By Grant Cameron

November 11^th, 2017

A day trip from Bangkok

Wat Hong Thong, the Golden Swan temple is some 60 kilometres from central Bangkok, and you can get there quite quickly if you go early in the morning. Fortunately the temple opens at 6am.

The temple is located in a mangrove forest area, and the effects of sea encroachment are plainly visible. More than half the temple's 21 rai of land has been lost to the sea over the last 30 years and efforts to protect it from sea erosion by planting mangroves and creating a breakwater have failed.

The main chapel, sermon hall, and monks' shelters all now stand in the sea.While local residents are distressed to lose so much land, the unusual sight has begun to bring tourism, mostly local, but some expats.

I will give some "technical" detail of the temple from the Amazing Thailand website.

Wat Hong Thong, also known as Wat Klang Nam, is located in a mangrove forest area, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao. The temple has walkways connecting the shore with the stupa of Phrathat Khongkha Mahachedi Pricha Prapakon Prat Soranin Anusorn and Ubosot, the main hall, both of which are situated in the sea.

The whole structure of the chedi has five levels with paintings concerning Buddhism and Thai kings, and several Buddha images hosted inside. On the highest level stands a golden stupa containing Arhats’ relics.

From this level, visitors can overlook the sea as well as the shore. Additionally, while walking along the main walkway, you will see signs with morals written on them from which you can read and learn something.

On the first level of the Phrathat Khongkha Mahachedi, a replica of the Buddha image of Luang Phor Sothorn together with several other Buddha images is hosted for visitors to pay their respect to.

In addition, the temple holds Tak Bat Phra Roi, a ceremony of almsgiving by putting coins into alms bowls in front of hundreds of Buddha images.

In addition, in the halfway point of the walkway stand sculptures of Phra Aphai Mani, Nang Phi Sua Samut, and other literary characters with a walkway around the sculptures for visitors to have a closer look at them.

The above images are taken from late morning when it was sunny bright and hot.

But I first visited in the very early morning when the sun was not yet above the horizon, and consequently there was the typical morning light which made the whole atmosphere of the temple rather warm and welcoming, especially as the tide was slowly coming in.

While the below images have subsequently been brightened, as the early morning light was quite dull, I have not changed the white balance as it seems rather appealing.

Getting there . .

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