Wat Ratchabophit
Encyclopedia
Wat Ratchabophit or Wat Ratchabophit Sahthit Mahasimaram Racha Wora Maha Viharn is a Buddhist temple
Wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...

 located in on Atsadang Road, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, along Khlong
Khlong
A khlong is the general name for a canal in the central plain of Thailand. These canals are spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong Rivers and their tributaries...

 Lot, not far from Wat Pho
Wat Pho
Wat Pho , is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan...

 and the Grand Palace. The temple was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).

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
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....

. The golden chedi
Chedi
Chedi is an alternative term for a Buddhist stupa, mainly used in Thailand. It may also refer to:* Chedi Kingdom, an early kingdom in India* Chedi, U Thong, a subdistrict of U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, Thailand...

(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 Srilankan style. The ordinal hall has 10 door panels and 28 window panels each decorated with gilded black lacquer on the inside.

The interior of the temple, bod, is guilded Italian architecture obtained from the idea of king's visit to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. 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 hectogonal spires decorated with Bencharong ceramic nagas and Erwan heads.

Royal Cemetry

On the west end of the temple grounds is the Royal Cemetery
Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit
The Royal Cemetery is located at the western side of the grounds of Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok.The cemetery contains tombs, monuments and memorials to numerous members of the Thai Royal Family, particularly those most closely related to King Chulalongkorn....

, with numerous monuments to major and minor members of the 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
Mahidol Adulyadej
Mahitaladhibes Adulyadejvikrom, the Prince Father , or officially styled Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla was the father of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. He was also regarded as the father of modern medicine and public health of Thailand...

, Srinagarindra
Srinagarindra
Srinagarindra was a member of the Thai Royal Family and was a member of House of Mahidol, which is descended from Chakri Dynasty, originated by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla, son of King Chulalongkorn...

 and Galyani Vadhana
Galyani Vadhana
Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Princess of Naradhiwas , was a princess of Thailand and the elder sister of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej...

. A Christian church is on the grounds, as are many chedis and Khamer-face towers.

Gallery

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