Monks in saffron robes collecting alms and conducting religious ceremonies often come to mind when thinking about Buddhist temples. At Wat Suthiwaram in Bangkok, free accommodation is another.
Wat Suthiwaram on Charoen Krung Road in Sathon district has recently grabbed news headlines for offering accommodation at no charge to members of the public.
Photos and a video clip showing comfortable, clean rooms were posted on social media and drew praise for the temple among netizens. Twenty-five rooms are available to members of the public in a building at the temple, a short walk from the BTS Skytrain's Saphan Taksin station and several well-known tourist sites.
Phra Khru Samu Ronnachai Mahavajirayano or Phra Ajarn Ronnachai, the secretary and caretaker of accommodation services and temple affairs, said the free-of-charge accommodation was the brainchild of abbot Phra Sutheerattanabundit, who wanted to provide rooms left vacant at the temple to ease people's burdens.
The 51-year-old abbot has made 25 rooms on the third and fourth floors of the temple’s Center of Buddhist Studies and Social Development building available for free to monks, novices, students and members of the public, said Phra Ajarn Ronnachai, 21.
"Wat Suthiwaram has been providing free accommodation since last year, but not many people knew about it until posts on social media went viral recently,'' said the monk.
A man registers for his stay on Monday as he and his wife travelling from a province to visit a relative at a hospital on Charoen Krung Road. (Photo by Nittaya Nattayai)
Rooms on the third floor are for male visitors while those on the fourth are reserved for females. Each floor has several bathrooms.
The second floor of the four-storey building serves as a learning centre for monks and laymen to study Dhamma or conduct volunteer activities.
The 21-year-old monk said people wanting to stay in the rooms were required to register on the second floor of the building from 4pm to 7pm every day and give reasons for their stay. Foreign tourists are also allowed to stay, but must be accompanied by police or officials.
The free accommodation is not intended simply to enable people to save the cost of a night at a hotel or guest house, however. Travelling from a province to visit family members at a hospital, taking an exam or participating in a contest or study trip are examples of good reasons to stay at the temple.
"Visitors should check in between 5pm and 8pm and check out between 6am and 8am. They must be back in their rooms by 9.30pm, when the building's front door is locked for safety reasons,'' said Phra Ajarn Ronnachai.
Bedsheets and other items are washed and cleaned by temple staff and boys from Wat Suthiwararam School opposite the temple.
Last year about 400 people used the temple’s free accommodation service.
An air-conditioned room with two beds is one of 25 rooms available for free to those who register at the temple. (Photo by Nittaya Nattayai)
Phra Khru Samu Ronnachai Mahavajirayano welcomes visitors at the temple's registration desk. (Photo by Nittaya Nattayai)
Dek Wat Coffee, a coffee shop run by the temple, is next to the main building. (Photo by Nittaya Nattyai)
The four-storey Center of Buddhist Studies and Social Development is close to the temple gate. (Photo by Nittaya Nattayai)