Is it possible for a temple to be an island? I will tell you the story of Wat Khu Bon. It is an island temple in a way. This temple is not an island surrounded by water. But its name refers to its location.
Wat Ko means island temple in Thai. This name comes from its position. Two waterways surround the temple. They are Khlong Bang Chueak Nang and Khlong Bang Noi.
Wat Ko is over 320 years old. It sits in the Bang Chueak Nang Subdistrict. This is in the Taling Chan District of Bangkok. The temple dates back to the late Ayutthaya period. We don’t know who built it.
Let’s talk about the temple’s highlights. Luang Pho Dam is the principal Buddha. It resides in the sanctuary. The sanctuary has a Chinese-styled roof. An ancient chedi stands to the right. It rims Khlong Bang Noi.
Wat Ko is quiet. It is small. Cars cannot reach it. But you can get here by boat. Long-tail boats come from Taling Chan floating market. These trips are only on weekends or holidays. The temple has been a water tourism destination.
Now, think about the wats themselves. A wat is a group of religious buildings. Usually, a wall surrounds them. This wall has gateways. These gateways look like Indian Buddhist Viharas. They often have receding stories. You can see an example of a later gateway design at Wat Pho in Bangkok. It looks like a royal Thai crown. Its details are more decorative than structural.
Most wats are expanded over time. Structures are added piece by piece. There is no master plan for the wat. A wat may contain a bot, a vihara and other structures.
Wat Ko gives us a glimpse into old Bangkok. It connects us to the Ayutthaya period. Imagine people arriving by boat. They came to worship and find peace. The temple’s history flows like the surrounding waters.