The dragon boat
A hall on the water.
Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand — CC BY 2.0 · Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand — CC BY 2.0 · Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand — CC BY 2.0 · Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand — CC BY 2.0
A Thai Buddhist temple in the Tumpat district of northern Kelantan, near the Thai border, where a Thai community has lived for centuries. It is known as the Dragon Boat Temple for its best-known feature: a prayer hall built in the shape of a huge boat floating in a pond, with a long, ornate dragon's head at its prow, guarded by four mythical serpents. The boat's walls and doors are covered in gilded reliefs on a red ground telling scenes from the life of the Buddha and the Jataka tales, and inside are columns decorated in blue and gold, a ceiling covered in colourful murals and a statue of the Buddha. Around the grounds are other towers and shrines, including a huge tiered lamp holder. It opens daily from seven in the morning to seven in the evening, entry is free, and as a working place of worship it asks for shoes off and modest dress. You will need a car from Kota Bharu, and it combines with Wat Phothivihan and its Reclining Buddha in the same area for a half day among Tumpat's Thai temples.
A hall on the water.
Scenes from the Buddha's life.
With the Reclining Buddha nearby.
Kampung Bukit Tanah, Tumpat, about fifteen kilometres from Kota Bharu
Yes, both are in the Tumpat district a short drive apart, so you can visit them together in half a day from Kota Bharu.