Wat Ratchabophit or formally Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan s 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.
The temple features a unique layout, with its wiharn and ubosot joined by a circular courtyard, at the centre 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. The ordination hall has 10 door panels and 28 window panels each decorated with gilded black lacquer on the inside.
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. The drum tower is a two-storeyed one with hexagonal spires decorated with Benjarong ceramic nagas and Erawan heads.
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. A Christian church is on the grounds, as are many chedis and Khamer-face towers.
The following photos are available for purchase at ALAMY. Enter "Wat Ratchabhopit" as the search string. Alternatively, contact me directly at kevinhellon@gmail.com.
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| Wat Ratchabophit |
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