If you’re visiting Phuket Island, don’t forget to stop in Chalong to see the sights, shop, and eat. One of the sights in this town constantly has visitors walking in and out throughout the day. It is a sacred temple that houses a statuette of monk Luang Por Cham.

Luang Por Cham is highly revered by the residents of Phuket; almost as if he was the Buddha. The monk’s fame came during the period of King Rama 5. During this time, a group of bandits were terrorizing the island to take over control. Luamg Por Cham offered Wat Chai Tararam (then known as Wat Chalong) to be used a base against the bandits, and provided the fighters with blessed clothes to protect them during confrontations. Eventually, the villagers were able to drive the bandits away. When King Rama 5th heard about the monk’s deeds, Luang Por Cham was bestowed the highest honor of Phuket, and the temple’s name was changed to Wat Chai Tararam.

Wat Chai Tararam is always full of visitors all day long. The temple provides flowers, joss sticks, and candles for visitors to offer to statuettes of revered monks Luang Por Cham, Luang Por Chuang, andLuang Por Glue-em. Local belief is that praying to the monks will bring you prosperity and keep you from harm’s way.  For those of you who believe in fortunes, there are fortune sticks provided as well. If you get a bad fortune, locals believe that you should leave the slip behind in the temple. By doing so, you are leaving your fortune for the monks to help you. You’ll get to see a lot of activity going on inside the temple.

There is another amazing sight to see inside the temple’s compound. It’s Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Jom Thai Paramee Prakat. Inside this beautiful Chedi you will find Buddha images in various positions as well as murals depicting events in the Buddha’s life. Another important part of the temple is … that contains wax figurines of all three monks.

The number of local and foreign visitors that come here each day is surprising! Seeing so many people really shows how much faith Thais (and foreigners) have to Buddhism. If you’re visiting Phuket to see Thai culture, stop by at Wat Chai Tararam to give offerings, pray, or simply to look at life inside the temple.

Address : Wat Chai Tararam, Chalong Sub-district, Mueang District, Phuket 83000

GPS : 7.846325962, 98.33732704

Opening Hrs. : Open all year round

Best time : Any time of the day

Activities : Praying/ Sight-seeing

From town, take Chaofah Tawan-Ok Rd. until Chalong Intersection. From there, take Chaofah Tawan-Tok Rd. The temple will be on your right-hand side; look for a large cement sign with the temple’s name.