Wat Yannawa is a royal temple established in the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767 AD) and initially called Wat Kok Khwai. The name was later changed to Wat Kok Krabue in the Thonburi and early Bangkok eras. During the Rattanakosin period, King Rama III (1824-1851) added a wiharn in the form of the Chinese junk to remind the Thai people of the sailing ships that had brought much prosperity to the country. The two chedi (pagodas) represent the masts of the ship and the alter is in the wheel house on the rear upper deck. King Rama III also bestowed the name Wat Yannawa upon the temple. Wat Yannawa was very popular with Chinese people who settled in the Yannawa area after the original China Town area became too crowded. The temple is still popular with the Chinese people who continue to live in the district.

The large gatehouse of the temple.
The temple's singular attraction is its very unusual wiharn in the shape of a Chinese junk. The wiharn was built on the orders of King Rama III, who saw steam ships replacing the old junks, and wanted the people to remember the old ships that had originally bought so much prosperity to the kingdom. The 'ship' is made out of concrete, with two chedis where the masts would normally be. The alter is in the wheel house above the stern.

How to get there:
Wat Yannawa is situated very near the Taksin Bridge Skytrain station. Exit the station to Charoen Krung Road, turn right, walk down, and you soon come to the temple's large gatehouse.