Proof that the sacred can survive amid the profane is Wat Chana Songkhram.
Its location in the backpacker enclave Banglamphu, close to Khao San Road and the mildly less frenetic Soi Rambuttri, belies both the ancient heritage and the tranquillity of this small temple.
Its origins date back to the Ayutthaya period, but it was restored in 1787, during the reign of King Rama I. This was after the famous victory in the Nine Armies' Wars, which explains the name – Wat Chana Songkhram Ratchaworawihan translates as 'victory in war'.
Open: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm