250px, Wat Phra Samut Chedi Wat Phra Samut Chedi (, ) is an ancient

Buddhist temple A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhism, Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat, khurul and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in B ...

Phra Samut Chedi District Phra Samut Chedi (, ) is the westernmost district (''amphoe'') of Samut Prakan province in central Thailand. Geography Neighboring districts are (from the west, clockwise) Bang Khun Thian and Thung Khru of Bangkok, Phra Pradaeng and (across th ...

Samut Prakan Province Samut Prakan province (, , , sometimes rendered Samutprakan or Samutprakarn) is one of the central Provinces of Thailand, provinces of Thailand, established on 9 May 1946 by the ''Act Establishing Changwat Samut Prakan, Changwat Nonthaburi, Cha ...

central Thailand Central Thailand (Central Plain) (historically also known as Siam or Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by the Phetchabun Mount ...

. Lined on the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

's bank in the area of Pak Khlong Bang Pla Ko Sub-district, near Phisuea Samut Fortress and Chulachomklao Fort, which was built to protect the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and played an important role during the " Paknam Incident" (July 1893) in the King

Rama V Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his ...

's reign. The most striking feature of the temple is "Phra Samut Chedi", the '' chedi'' (stūpa) of the same name and also the origin of the district where it is located. It was built since the King

Rama II Phutthaloetla Naphalai (born Chim; 24 February 1767 or 1768 – 21 July 1824), also known by his regnal name Rama II, was the second King of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 1809 to 1824. In 1809, Itsarasunthon succeeded his father R ...

's reign but was completed during the subsequent reign, King

Rama III Nangklao (born Thap; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), also known by his regnal name Rama III, was the third king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. Nangklao was the eldest surviving son of King Rama II. ...

in the early Rattanakosin period (18th century). The stūpa was once settled on an island surrounded by the waterway before the water level decreased that it later connected to the mainland. Hence the name "Phra Samut Chedi", which means "ocean stūpa temple". Wat Phra Samut Chedi is considered one of the oldest and most well-known temples in Samut Prakan. Its stūpa is regarded as a symbol or landmark of the province, inside contains the Buddha's relics, image of Buddha's posture of Phra Ham Samut (pacifying the ocean) and Buddha image, Phra Chai Wat. On the 5th day of the waning moon of the 11th month of every year (around October), there will be a stūpa worship ceremony. This is the biggest temple fair in Samut Prakan and the one greatest traditions in the province.

References

{{Coord, 13.600165, N, 100.58678, E, type:isle, display=title 18th-century Buddhist temples Buddhist temples in Samut Prakan province Registered ancient monuments in Thailand