Choeng Thale translates as “the temple at the edge of the sea”. When and by whom it was built is unknown; the temple’s history is shrouded in legends.
According to one version, Choeng Thale was founded in 1901 by Mr. Ju Pai Tuk, a barber who brought three wooden images of Taoist deities from China and created a shrine for them. Another version claims that the temple appeared on April 5, 1917, while a third suggests that the sacred site is much older, with Luang Pho Plod serving as its abbot sometime between 1852 and 1886.
Today, anyone can visit Choeng Thale. It’s free, though donations are welcome. On sacred dates, the temple hosts festivals, such as the Vegetarian Festival with rituals and initiations.
What to see at the temple:
- The stupa (chedi), which holds a fragment of the Buddha’s bone.
- Ubosot is the main temple prayer hall, decorated with bright paintings, carved gates and antique windows, the walls are painted with scenes from Buddha’s life.
- The temple grounds, where you can escape the heat in the shade of the trees, observe the monks, and feel true tranquility.
Locals come to the temple to make offerings and receive blessings from the monks. You can also ask a monk to tie a sacred sai sin thread around your wrist.
Don’t forget that when visiting the temple, you must remove your shoes before entering.
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