Wat Ratchapradit Bangkok - First Class Royal Temple - Thailand Burial Site Of King Rama IV

Wat Ratchapradit

Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram Ratcha Wora Maha Viharn วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร (the full name) is a Buddhist temple in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok. Wat Ratchaparadit was designated a first class royal monastery in 1915, making it one of the most significant temples in Thailand.

The temple is located near the Grand Palace, its main entrance is on Saranrom Road. Wat Ratchabopit is located diagonally across the Khlong Khu Mueang Derm (also Khlong Lot) on Rattanakosin Island.

The land on which the temple now stands was formerly designated by King Nangklao (Rama III) as a coffee plantation. However, after his death, his successor King Mongkut (Rama IV) decided to build a temple on the land instead.

According to King Mongkut the three principal temples in the old capital city of Ayutthaya were; Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Rachapradit. Since the establishment of Bangkok as the capital city in 1782, only two temples with those names were built; Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana. The king was determined therefore to build a temple with the name Wat Rachapradit for the people of Bangkok.

The king encountered a problem when he found the land too soft, being next to a canal. To solve this problem the king decide to host a public performance of Thai traditional dance on the site. The cost of admission being an empty garlic jar per. These garlic jars were then collected and used by the king's workmen as the foundation of the main ordination hall of the temple.

Construction began in 1864 and was completed seven months later. The temple's full name as given by the king was Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram. As the temple's first abbot, the king appointed Sa Pussadeva, a monk from Wat Bowonniwet Vihara. A member of the Dhammayuttika sect, the abbot made Wat Rachapradit the sect's first temple. In 1893 King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) would make the abbot Supreme Patriarch.

The main structure is the Phra Viharn Luang พระวิหารหลวง, it is both a Vihāra and an ordination hall. Situated on a raise platform the Phra Viharn Luang is covered on the outside with grey marble tiles.

Inside are murals painted in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, depicting royal festivals of the twelve months. The main Buddha image is a replica of the Phra Phuttha Sihing, underneath it are the ashes of King Mongkut. On the wall opposite the Buddha image is a mural depicting King Mongkut watching the solar eclipse at Wakor village, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province on 18 August 1868.

The Pasana Chedi ปาสาณเจดีย์ or the 'Stone Chedi' is a large Sri Lankan style stupa, which is situated behind the Phra Viharn Luang. The stupa is covered in grey marbles tiles and was built by King Mongkut.

The temple is not visited by many toursits and is relatively unknown by the locals, even with its royal first class designation. It’s worth a half hour to an hour of your time if you enjoy seeing Thai temples.

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