Wat Phothivihan
Malay: Wat Phothivihan
Thai: วัดโพธิวิหาร
Front view of the temple
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
DistrictTumpat District
Location
LocationTumpat
StateKelantan
CountryMalaysia
Geographic coordinates6°7′48.824″N 102°8′15.502″E / 6.13022889°N 102.13763944°E / 6.13022889; 102.13763944
Architecture
TypeThai temple
FounderPhra Krurasapia Chakorn[1]
Date established1973[1]

Wat Photivihan (Thai: วัดโพธิวิหาร; RTGS: Wat Phothiwihan) (also called as the Phothivihan Buddhist Temple) or Wat Yamu (Thai: วัดยามู), is a Thai temple in Tumpat District, Kelantan, Malaysia. It is one of 25 temples found in Tumpat and is one of the most popular in the country.[2][3]

History

The temple was established in 1973 by abbot Phra Krurasapia Chakorn which attracts thousands of Thai pilgrims every year.[1]

Features

The temple houses a 40-metre statue of a sleeping Buddha, which is considered as the largest and longest in the state since its construction in 1975.[1][3][4] Upon its completion in 1979, the statue is recognised as one of the two reclining Buddha statues in Malaysia and also the largest in Southeast Asia until being surpassed by the 66-metre statue in Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple of Myanmar.[5] The devotees of this temple are mainly ethnic Thais since the temple itself is a typical Thai Buddhist temple of Theravāda Buddhism. Despite this, there is also a Chinese Pavilion, Tibetan style hall featuring a statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with 18 arms and Phra Phrom, the four-faced goddess.[5] The compound also includes accommodation for monks and visitors. There is plenty of free parking and entrance to the temple is free with any donations from the visitors are always welcomed.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 DK Travel (15 January 2016). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Malaysia and Singapore. Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 154–. ISBN 978-0-241-25431-8.
  2. ↑ Shanti Gunaratnam (8 May 2006). "Shop, shop, shop: Big on bargains". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 Sira Habibu (28 August 2017). "Tumpat's iconic tribute to Buddha". The Star. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Mariah Doksil (28 August 2016). "Thai goods shopping in Kelantan". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 21 March 2019 – via PressReader. Wat Phothivihan located in Tumpat, is a famous temple for its reclining Buddha statue. It is Malaysia's biggest reclining Buddha with a length of 40 metres.
  5. 1 2 "Tumpat - Finding Buddha in the backwaters of Kelantan". Dan's on the Road. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
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