Wat Chaiyamangkalaram
Lorong Burma, George Town

Wat Chaiyamangkalaram, also written Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, is the largest Thai Buddhist temple in Penang. It is often called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha of Penang, on account of the magnificent reclining Buddha image house in the vihara. The image of Phra Chaiya Mongkol measures 33 meters (108 ft) from end to end. However, the statue was only built in 1958, in conjunction with the 2500th anniversary of the birth of Buddha, at a cost of M$100,000.

The magnificent reclining Buddha at Wat Chaiyamangkalaram, Penang.

Cross Reference on Reclining Buddhas of Southeast Asia

Wat Po, Bangkok, Thailand

Kyaukhtatgyi Buddha, Yangon, Myanmar

Shwethalyaung Buddha, Bago, Myanmar

Wat Phothivihan, Tumpat, Kelantan, Malaysia

The Buddha image is actually columbarium housing niches for urns of the cremated. There is a crematorium within the temple complex in addition to the gilded prang (pagoda), another magnificent sight at Wat Chaiyamangkalaram. A small Thai community still live within the complex. There is also a Thai cemetery.

When Francis Light founded Penang, he adopted an open-door policy to make Penang a conducive place for different communities to co-exist. As a result, within George Town are enclaves of diverse communities including the Armenians, Acheenese, Chulia, Malabaris, Burmese as well as the Thai. In 1845, the Thai community sought a piece of land. As a gesture to promote trading relations with Siam, Queen Victoria granted a five-acre piece in Pulau Tikus to them. The land grant was presented by the Governor of Penang, W.L. Butterworth to four women trustees, on 22 July 1845.

Another interesting information about Wat Chaiyamangkalaram was that the first monk was a Theravada Buddhist called Phorthan Kuat, or "Powerful Monk". According to legend, he was very fond of laksa, a local specialty. Today devotees continue to offer bring laksa as offering to his shrine.

Wat Chaiyamangkalaram is one of the two temples often involved in the staging of Thai festivals such as Loy Krathong and Songkhran.