Wat Pha Bong (Wat Mank Kalaram)

Temple in Chiang Mai

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Stefan Fussan

Wat Pha Bong, also known as Wat Mank Kalaram, is a small but charming temple located in Chiang Mai, known for its peaceful atmosphere and its unique features. The temple is particularly famous for the large gong set up in the courtyard, which visitors are encouraged to strike three times to bring “happiness, health, and peace.” Tourists eagerly queue up to participate, and afterward, they place donations in a box managed by the cheerful lady running the adjacent shop. Though the temple aims to attract visitors, it is relatively small, with only a viharn (hall) and a chedi (stupa) to explore, in addition to the usual monks’ quarters and administrative buildings.

The Viharn

The viharn at Wat Phabong is built in traditional Lanna style, featuring a multi-tiered, overlapping roof with slender chofa finials. The bargeboards are decorated with a mosaic of silver and gold glass fragments, creating the body of a naga, whose head protrudes from the eaves. The richly adorned gable end showcases gilt foliation on a red background, with floral motifs applied to the columns that support the front, each topped with lotus flower capitals. Two gilt buffalo figures are perched above the door, along with a seated Buddha image. Inside, the viharn is supported by five pairs of stout columns, painted in red lacquer with floral decorations. The walls are adorned with murals depicting scenes from the Buddha’s past lives. The main altar features a Buddha image in the Subduing Mara pose, sitting beneath a painted Bodhi tree on the back wall, accompanied by several smaller Buddha statues and photos of revered monks.

The Chedi

Adjacent to the viharn is a small chedi, painted gold and located near the west wall. It has a square base with indented corners and four niches containing sitting Buddha images, decorated with gilt scrollwork. Above the base, the chedi takes on a circular form, rising to a bell-shaped structure topped with a gilt hti finial.

Other Features

Wat Phabong also houses a shrine dedicated to King Naresuan, a revered warrior king who fought to liberate Siam from Burmese occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries. The life-size statue of King Naresuan, painted black and holding a spear, stands as a tribute to his legacy. Visitors will also find offerings of stucco cockerels near the shrine, symbolizing the king’s involvement in cockfighting during his time as a prisoner of the Burmese. In the center of the courtyard is a large stucco Buddha image, surrounded by kneeling devata figures and birds. A sign encourages worshippers to recite a mantra to overcome Mara, the Buddhist equivalent of the Devil. Visitors are also invited to strike the gong for happiness and health, followed by a donation. Near the gate stands a Bodhi tree adorned with flags and Buddha images beneath it, where offerings can be made.

The Wat Pha Bong (Wat Mank Kalaram) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Chiang Mai!

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