What's a Wat?

Borrowed in part (thank you) from Lonelyplanet

A wat is a Buddhist compound where men or women can be ordained as monks or nuns. Virtually every village in Thailand has at least one wat, and towns and cities have several.

The typical wat compound contains a consecrated chapel where the ordinations are held, a place where important images of Buddha are housed, an open-sided shelter for community meetings and religious talks, a library, a drum tower, places where the ashes of worshippers are interred, monastic quarters, ancillary buildings and a house for the temple's reigning earth spirit.

In rural areas, the wat often serves as a combined religious centre, grammar school, health clinic, herbal sauna house, community centre, astrology house, guesthouse, funeral home and geriatric ward. The wat is also a social centre, and a focus for festival activities. Temple fairs are especially lively, taking place on auspicious dates and featuring music, feasting, outdoor cinema and fireworks. Funeral ceremonies feature an animated musical procession from the deceased's home to the wat.

The chapel of Wat Phra Singh houses the image of Phra Buddha Sihing, an image which is highly revered by the Chiang Mai and Thai people alike. The architectural style of the chapel exemplifies the splendours of Lanna-Thai art and culture at its finest. The mural paintings on the walls of temple depict the scenes of Suwannahong and Sang Thong classic literature.

Naga at the main front entrance of the

Viharn of Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai.

The Naga, or the king of snakes, is a serpent like creature with beard and pointed crown. In old text, Naga is the half-brother of the Garuda.

The Naga is often found in Thai architecture and also frequently portrayed giving comfort and shade to the meditating Buddha, the coils of the great snake acting as a cushion while the many heads function as an umbrella.

And there is a long serpent stairway at Wat Doi Suthep overlooking Chiang Mai.