Wat Chakrawat

Wat Chakrawat, officially Wat Chakrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan, is a historic Buddhist royal temple in Chakrawat Subdistrict, Samphanthawong District, Bangkok. Located near Chinatown and the Chao Phraya River, it was originally Wat Sam Pluem from the Ayutthaya period. Renovated during the reign of King Rama III and elevated to a royal temple under King Rama IV, it is notable for its traditional architecture, revered Buddha images, and its famous crocodile pond.

Visitors can expect a compact, active temple compound in Bangkok's Chinatown area with an ordination hall (ubosot), sermon hall (viharn), chedi, and Buddha images. The most distinctive feature is a small fenced pond housing freshwater crocodiles, located within the temple grounds. The setting is urban and relatively quiet compared to larger royal temples, with narrow lanes, shrine buildings, and areas for merit-making and observation of daily monastic activities.

Originally founded as Wat Sam Pluem during the Ayutthaya period, the temple was extensively restored during the reign of King Nangklao (Rama III) and later elevated to a royal temple of Woramahawihan class by King Mongkut (Rama IV), who gave it the current name Wat Chakrawat Rachawat Woramahawihan. It represents continuity from Ayutthaya to Rattanakosin-era temple architecture and royal patronage.

An active Theravada Buddhist temple and third-class royal temple, it serves as a religious center for the local Chinatown community. It is culturally known for its crocodile pond, linked to a local legend of a man-eating crocodile, and for preserving traditional merit-making practices, Buddha image veneration, and temple architecture in an urban heritage district.