Wat Sangkhathan Saturday 21.09.2013

Wat Sangkhathan Saturday 21.09.2013

Wat Sangkhathan (วัดสังฆทาน) is the only wat in the world with an ubosot made of glass, and it has another building with impressive wood carvings. It is best accessed by river boat, pier N28 Wat Kian (วัดเขียน about 10 minutes walk from the pier).

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=wat+sangkhathan&hl=en&ll=13.826766,100.492673&spn=0.011147,0.021136&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.188995,86.572266&t=m&z=16

From my place, the best way to go to Wat Sangkhathan is by taxi. Arrive 13:50. There are many Thai, but no other Farang.

There is a building with intricate wood carvings that rival those of the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya:

 Work in progress:

 Unfortunately, there is some damage due to water and insects:

Ground floor with intricately carved wood columns:

The columns have carvings that represent religions or nations:

United States of America with Mount Rushmore, native American and 9-11:

This one is for Germany, with a flag with a swastika, arms raised for the Hitler salute and Adolf Hitler in a car (the car has a Mercedes star, the person in it does not look like Adolf Hitler not is his hand raised for the salute, but from context it must be Adolf Hitler):

 I don't know who the standing man is, definitely not Adolf Hitler (hairdo, mustache):

 Osama Bin Laden is displayed as well:

 George W. Bush is on the column for Iraq and Iran:

Most column have a tiny white label with their name in Thai, this one is for Greece:

Very interesting place, try to recognize the events, places and people that are displayed on the columns!

The building contains the coffin of Luang Phor Sanon (หลวงพ่อสนอง) on the upper floor:

The carved wooden columns alone make the place worth a visit, but there is more, the only glass Ubosot in the world (due to surroundings, I couldn't get away far enough to take a picture of the whole building):

from outside it looks like a crystal because the glass is reflecting and the surface is smooth, but from inside you can see the metal support structure and you can look outside:

There must be one more floor above the ceiling, if you compare heights outside and inside.

from a distance, you can only see the top:

I leave the wat 15:30. Arrive at the pier N28 Wat Kian (วัดเขียน) 15:40. There are boys swimming in the river not far from the pier, but the boat is already coming, so I can’t go to the boys. From N28 to central pier Sathorn 15:49 to 16:50, 15 Baht.

How did I know about this place? It is mentioned in guidebooks for Thailand in Thai language.

Some websites with additional information:

https://sites.google.com/site/dhammawavenet/09
http://greenbkk.blogspot.com/2011/10/greenbkkcom-travel-wat-sanghathan.html

Following in the timeline:

Park at BTS Sathorn Saturday 21.09.2013 separate post

Babylon Sauna Saturday 21.09.2013 separate post