Wat Ratchabophit

Wat Ratchabophit or formally Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan (Thai: วัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร), is a Buddhist temple on Atsadang Road, Bangkok, along Khlong Khu Mueang Doem, not far from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. The temple was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). The abbott of the termple is Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, the current Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

Wat Ratchabophit
Interior of the ubosot, in Gothic revival style
Religion
AffiliationTheravada Buddhism
Location
CountryThailand
Location in Bangkok
Geographic coordinates13°44′57″N 100°29′50″E
Architecture
FounderKing Chulalongkorn
Completed1869 A.D.

Architecture

Inside the temple

The temple features a unique layout, with its wiharn and ubosot joined by a circular courtyard, at the center of which stands a gilded chedi. The golden chedi (43m high) is covered with orange-coloured tiles and on top of the chedi, there is a golden ball. There is a relic of Buddha inside and the chedi was built in Sri Lankan style.[1] The ordination hall has 10 door panels and 28 window panels each decorated with gilded black lacquer on the inside.[2]

The interior of the temple or bod, is inspired by gilded Italian architecture that Rama V saw on a visit to Europe. The entrance doors are 3m high and are decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl, which represents various medals and decorations.[2] The drum tower is a two-storeyed one with hectogonal spires decorated with Benjarong ceramic nagas and Erawan heads.[1]

Royal Cemetery
Main article: Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit

On the west end of the temple grounds is the Royal Cemetery, with numerous monuments to major and minor members of the Thai Royal Family, most notably those in the immediate family of King Chulalongkorn. One of the memorials, the Rangsi Vadhana Memorial, contains the ashes of Mahidol Adulyadej, Srinagarindra and Galyani Vadhana.[1] A Christian church is on the grounds, as are many chedis and Khamer-face towers.[1]

  • View from outside the circular cloister
  • Mausoleum of Savang Vadhana
  • View from outside
  • The front entrance with an image of watchman
  • door image
  • Outside view

Notes
  1. Liedtke 2011, p. 57
  2. Spooner 2011, p. 96

References
  • Liedtke, Marcel (2011), Thailand- The East (English Edition), Norderstedt: Books on Demand GmbH, ISBN 978-3-8423-7029-6
  • Spooner, Andrew; Hana Borrowman; William Baldwin (2011), Footprint Thailand, UK: www.footprintbooks.com, ISBN 978-1-904777-94-6
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