Thailand’s 1st Primary School and Wat Mahannapharam - Bangkok Thailand

Wat Mahannapharam Worawihan or Wat Mahan, commonly called Wat Mahanop วัดมหรรณพ, is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok Thailand. The first state school for general public in Thailand was established at the temple in 1884.

Wat Mahannapharam Worawihan was constructed in the reign of King Rama III by Prince Annop, a son of Rama III. The construction began in 1850 with the king donating 80,000 baht. It was only completed in the reign of King Rama IV when the new king donated another 80,000 baht.

The name of the temple means "the great abode of water", referring to the Sea of Samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

The first public school in Thailand was established at Wat Mahannapharam by the abbot of the temple after an instruction was issued by Rama V encouraging temples to set up new schools for common people in 1884. It was the beginning of mass education in Thailand. A statue of Rama V was later erected at the temple to mark the centenary of the founding of the school.

The main Buddha image in the ubosot is Luang Por Bunyarit หลวงพ่อบุญฤทธิ์, sculpted during the reign of Rama III in the Ayutthaya style.

The Buddha image in the wihan is Pra Ruang Thong Kam พระร่วงทองคำ, cast in the Sukhothai style. Pra Ruang is much older, dated back to Sukhothai period and made from 60 per cent gold.

The temple is near Khao San Road and a good stop for anyone that enjoys seeing the temple architecture or learning a little bit of the history of the area. It’s worth about an hour of your time to see.

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