Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is also known as Wat Leng Noei Yi or Dragon LotusTemple. It is considered the largest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It was established for the first time as a Mahayana Buddhist temple around 1871. This temple would host various events throughout the year, such as the Chinese New Year and the Chinese Vegetarian Festival. The temple is typically decorated using a Chinese architectural style that uses Chinese dragons. During the annual vegetarian festival, religious and culinary activities are particularly active here.
The temple is built in a classical Chinese architectural style. The roof tiles are decorated with animal and floral motifs, including ubiquitous Chinese dragons. The golden-colored Buddha image in Chinese style resides in the ordination room. Four large statues guarded the main entrance to the sermon hall. Dressed in warrior costumes, the Chatulokkaban, known as the guardians of the world, stand on either side. Around the temple are sanctuaries dedicated to various Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian religious divinities and personalities, all important in local Chinese beliefs. The front yard houses several other sanctuaries, including an oven for the ritual burning of paper money and other offerings to the ancestors of the faithful.
A passage on Charoen Krung Road is used to enter the temple. The temple is a tedious low structure and you can see the dragons playing with a pearl on the roof. Inside the temple, there is a mixture of courtyards and passages linking various altars to Buddha as well as to Taoist deities. The smoke of hundreds and thousands of incense sticks fills and swirls around the courtyards.
