Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram

Not the oldest, but certainly the largest Buddhist temple in Penang. The colossal size is not within reason, for within the main temple is found the reputed third longest reclining Buddha in the world. Measuring some 33 metres (108ft) from toe to tip of headgear, Wat Chaiya's reclining Buddha takes pride of place alongside other Buddha colossi found in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and China.

The Wat Chaiya was built in 1845 on five acres of land donated by Queen Victoria to the Thai community. The architecture is authentic down to the last bit of gold paint on the pagodas - so much so that one feels transported to another place and time when wandering about the sprawling grounds. Like the Burmese temple across the road, one is likely to encounter mythical beings and religious icons which dot the grounds.

Walking towards the main temple, visitors are greeted by awesome looking green-faced beings standing guard before the temple entrance. 'Crawling' at their feet are two huge dragon-headed serpents. Unlike the culture in the West (read Caucasian), Oriental mythology teaches that serpents and dragons are propitious beings and not to be feared.

A casual observer might not pay much attention to the different poses assumed by Buddha, but Buddhists believe that the different postures signify different meanings -- standing, sitting or reclining. The significance behind the reclining Buddha in the Wat Chaiya, for example, with the head resting in the palm of the right hand, with the head pointing northwards, signifies enlightenment or Nirvana. Underneath the reclining Buddha are niches where ashes of the deceased are kept.