One of Bangkok’s strangest temples because it has live crocodiles! The temple has one of the largest groups of monks and novices in Bangkok. Originally called Wat Samplum, it dates from the Ayutthaya period. It was renovated during the reign of King Rama III. Prangs represent Mount Meru. In Thailand. Buddha relics were often housed in a vault in these structures. In Khmer (historical Cambodian) structures, Hindu deities were housed in the prang monument. In most prangs there is an inside chamber which may allow entry. Thai prangs were usually built with bricks, then covered with stucco. The main visible difference is that Khmer prangs taper off in tiers of decreasing size. Thai prangs taper off gradually and smoothly. This is a Khmer-style prang.