Wat Saman Rattanaram

Huge statues of several deities

On a small island surrounded by the Bang Pakong river in the town of Chachoengsao is Wat Saman Rattanaram.

The colorful temple is dedicated to several religions. Highlights are very large statues of the Chinese Goddess of Mercy Guanyin and the Hindu deities Ganesha, Indra and Brahma.

Huge Ganesha statue

The first statue that comes into sight is a huge pink colored image of a Reclining Ganesha, measuring 22 meters long and 16 meters high. Ganesha is depicted with an elephant head with two tusks, one of which is broken off. The image has four arms. In one hand is the broken off tusk, in another hand a lotus flower.

A Hindu deity, Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles. Chants and Arti devotional songs in Marathi language to honor Ganesha can be heard around the image.

Make a wish to Ganesha

Devotees come here to make a wish. If you want to make a wish, do as follows.

The Ganesha statue is surrounded by eight rats, each in a different color. You choose the rat to make a wish to based on the day of the week you were born, and if it is a Wednesday, whether it was in the am or in the pm. Insert some money into the donation box and whisper your wish into one of the rat’s ears, covering the other ear firmly so your wish cannot escape from the rat’s head.

It is believed that Ganesha will make your wish come true quickly.

Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy

Facing the river is a standing statue of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy.

Often depicted with multiple arms, this statue has two arms. In her left hand, Guanyin is holding a small child. In ancient Hindu texts, she is described as having a thousand arms, which enables her to help a large number of people at the same time.

In front of the statue stands a small very ornate and colorful Chinese temple.

Hindu deity Indra

Another large statue depicts the Hindu deity Indra riding the three headed elephant Erawan. He is holding a trident and a thunderbolt, a weapon he used to kill the evil Vritra. Indra is the Hindu King of the Gods and the King of Heaven.

Hindu God Brahma

Overlooking the river is a large statue of the Hindu God Brahma seated on a pedestal, his left foot resting on pink lotus flowers. Depicted with four faces and four arms and wearing a golden crown, Brahma is revered as the God of Creation.

Naga serpents

On the riverbank are several large brightly colored images of Naga snakes. Nagas are often seen in Thai temples. When the Buddha was meditating under a Bodhi tree, it was a Naga serpent that sheltered the Buddha with his hoods from torrential rain.

In the river is a bed of artificial pink lotus flowers.

Golden Rock

In a corner of the parking lot is a replica of the Golden Rock in Burma with the Kyaikhtiyo pagoda, one of Burma’s most sacred sites. The pagoda on top of the Golden Rock on the edge of a cliff enshrines a hair of the Buddha.

Market

Between the parking lot and the temple is a market where vendors sell souvenirs, clothing and all kinds of knick knacks. You can try local delicacies, get some Thai street food or have a drink in a coffee shop.

River boat ride

After exploring the temple you can take a relaxing boat ride on the Bang Pakong river and enjoy the views of the temple and the Chachoengsao countryside from the water. A twenty minute boat trip costs 50 Baht per person.

Opening hours

Wat Saman Rattanaram opens daily during daylight hours. The grounds can get quite busy on weekends and public holidays.

Location

The temple is located on a small island in the Bang Pakong river in Chachoengsao town, about 90 kilometers East of Bangkok.

How to get to there

The easiest and quickest way to get to Wat Saman Rattanaram is by taxi. From downtown Bangkok the trip will take about 1½ hours by car. As it can be difficult to find a taxi back, have the driver wait for the return trip. Agree on price and duration of the trip before leaving.