Pay homage to Sampokong at Wat Kalayanamit, Bangkok, in the Chinese style

Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawihan was built in the area of ​​the former “Kudi Chin Village” by Chao Phraya Nikorn Bodin (To Kalyanamitra), the progenitor of the Kalyanamitra family, who was the acting Samuha Nayok. He donated his house and nearby land, which was originally a village where Chinese monks lived, to be built as a temple in 1825 and presented to His Majesty as a royal temple. King Nangklao, Rama III, bestowed the name “Wat Kalayanamit” and built the royal chapel and the principal Buddha image, which was a large Buddha image named Phra Phuttha Trairattanayok or Luang Pho To, with the intention of making it similar to the old capital, i.e. having a large Buddha image outside the city walls like Wat Phanan Choeng. Luang Pho To is highly revered and is called Sam Po Hut Kong or Sam Po Kong in Chinese. It is a stucco Buddha statue in the Mara Vijaya attitude, with a lap width of 5 wa 3 cubits and a height of 7 wa 2 cubits and 10 inches. King Nangklao ordered its construction as a royal gift to Chao Phraya Nikorn Bodin. The foundation stone was laid on May 18, 1837. It is located inside a large chapel. The chapel houses the Pali Lai (Pa Lai) Buddha statue, which King Rama III built and gave as a royal gift. It is one of two temples in Bangkok with the principal Buddha image in the Pali Lai (Pa Lai) attitude. In front of the royal chapel is a newly built bell tower, which houses the largest giant bell in Thailand. Location: Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Thonburi side, at the southern mouth of the Bangkok Yai Canal, Bangkok.