Introduction

A typical Wat Thai (loosely translated as monastery or temple) has two enclosing walls that divide it from the secular world. The monks' or nun' quarters or dormitories are situated between the outer and inner walls. This area may also contain a bell tower or hor rakang. In larger temples, the inner wall may be lined with Buddha images and serve as cloisters or galleries for meditation. This part of the temple is called buddhavasa or phutthawat (for the Buddha).

Inside the inner walls is the bot or ubosoth (ordination hall), surrounded by eight stone tablets and set on consecrated ground. This is the most sacred part of the temple and only monks can enter it. The bot contains a Buddha image, but it is the viharn (assembly hall) that contains the principal Buddha images. Also, in the inner courtyard are the bell-shaped chedi(relic chambers), which contain the relics of pious or distinguished people. Salas (rest pavilions) can be found all around the temple; the largest of these area is the sala kan parian (study hall), used for saying afternoon prayers.

In Thai temples, the compound is a space for many activities.
In some monasteries there are many dogs, monkeys or bats. Monks feed animals because those ones are supposed to be persons that misbehaved in their previous life.
Many Thai temples do contain lakes or ponds with cat fishes. Nobody dare to fish them. Feeding them is really impressive because they all converge towards the food. Fedding them brings also merit for next life. In some big temples, there is often a Chinese shrine. Sometimes there is a pond where turtles are living. Feeding them brings also merit for next life (THAM BUN).

Temples are an open space for life. Children often plays in temple compounds.
In big temples there are some restaurants, food sellers and so on... In other there are some clairvoyant people that read the palm of the hand. Even in some monasteries there is a traditional massage school. A famous one is located in (WAT PHO) in Bangkok.
Sometimes in temples close to rivers some small stalls sell fish, birds. Freeing them is a good action.
Article Source:http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.thaiworldview.com

Bot,Wihara,Prang,Kuti,Chofah,Bai Sema

Bot or Ubosot
The ubosot of Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Rai.
The ordination hall, where new monks are ordained and other important ceremonies take place. The ubosot is not necessarily the largest building in a temple compound, and may not always be open to the public. In fact, the ubosot is supposed to be off limits at all times to women, but this rule is seldom enforced. The ubosot will always have an alter with at least one Buddha image, making it hard to tell the difference between a Bot and a Wiharn. The easiest way to tell the difference is that only the ubosot will be surrounded by Sema stones. Bot can also refer to a Christian church building.

Wihara -- which can also be spelled with a "V" instead of a "W" -- house important buddha images and are where the laity come to pray. While there will always only be one ubosot in a wat, there can be several Wiharn.

Prang
A more phallic-shaped tower that will be in the center of Ayutthaya and khmer-style temples. The prang is typically described as a "corn-cob" shape. Prangs can be found all over Ayutthaya.

Kuti
A temple that also acts as a monastery will have monks' cells, called "kuti." These can come in all shapes and sizes.

Chofah
Chofah are the decorations at the end of roof gables. In Bangkok and the central plains, they are generally shaped like an abstracted antelope head, although they can also be very bird-like.

Bai Sema
Boundary markers, always made of stone. The ubosot is always surrounded by eight boundary stones, marking the sacred ground of the temple. The word bai means "leaf" in Thai. The stones are usually leaf-shaped.

Article Source:http://www.thailandforvisittors.com

Sala,Ho Rakang,Entrance,Chedi

In a Thai temple there is a pavilion for ceremonies and sermons (SALA).

The "SALA" is a pavilion used for ceremonies, feasts and sermons. During major Buddhist feasts, laymen and laywomen sit in the "SALA" in order to listen to the abbot's sermon. In small temples monks eat in the "SALA".

In a Thai temple, there is a gong tower (HO RAKANG) for announcements.

The gong or bells are used for daily timetable. Every early morning a monk hits the gong in order to awake the other monks. A layman often hits the gong in order to call the monks for the morning and noon meals. In the evening a monk hits the gong to indicate the beginning of the prayers.

In a Thai temple, there is always a beautiful entrance. If the temple is well-known, many faithful people give money to embellish it.

Doors are often decorated with brilliant colors and glittering stuff.At night time, monastery entrance is closed and locked.A temple is surrounded by white walls. The walls also represent the separation between the monks and lay people.

In a Thai temple, the pagoda (CHEDI) is the highest building in the temple. In famous monasteries it is used to store relics of the Lord Buddha. In ordinary temples it is used to store the relics of monks.
A Thai "CHEDI" is a kind of pagoda. The "CHEDI" has always the form of a lotus. Lotus is important in Buddhism. It symbols the enlightenment because the lotus blossoms on dirty pool. It symbolises the passage from darkness to light, the passage from ignorance to wisdom.

The "CHEDI" has specific symbolism, representing the different states of life.

Artcle Source:http://www.thaiworldview.com