Wats

Wats are Buddhist temple complexes found throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and to a lesser extent Myanmar. The term is the local designation for a temple and is used to refer to a range of religious sites that serve as places of worship, monastic residence, and community gathering. The word’s exact linguistic origin is debated, but it is generally linked to Pali or Sanskrit roots for temple or assembly.

The typical wat combines religious spaces with facilities for education and community life. A standard layout often includes an ubosot or ordination hall, used for ceremonial rites; a viharn or assembly hall for lay worship; a stupa or chedi that contains relics; and a ho trai library that houses sacred texts. Additional elements may include a bell tower, monk living quarters, gardens, and sometimes a committee-run marketplace. Architectural styles vary by country: Thai wats frequently feature steep, multi-tiered roofs and slender chedis; Khmer wats emphasize massive prangs and extensive gallery structures; Lao wats tend to be simpler and more compact, with local decorative motifs.

Wats play multiple roles beyond worship. Monks live and study there; they provide teaching, guidance, and ritual services for the lay community. Wats host ceremonies, festivals, and charitable activities and often preserve local art, murals, and manuscripts. Historically, wats developed from early Buddhist monasteries and royal endowments, absorbing Khmer, Mon, and regional influences. Today they remain central to religious practice and cultural heritage in the region, with some, such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, recognized as major heritage sites and tourist destinations.