people in Thai society today have been taught to believe that an institution that teaches an promotes Buddhist religion or "Wat" can be divided into two groups, which include Wat-Ban and Wat-Pah. According to the historical evidences, Wat-Ban and Wat-Pah are believed to have existed since Sukhothai era as the terms were recorded in the inscription stone in Thai texts and language. Wat Ban and Wat Pah are perceived as an influence of the Buddhist practice in Srelungka or Lungkawong religious doctrine
WAT TRIMITR
Temple of the Golden Buddha
Many years ago a huge Buddha image was transfered to the compound of the Wat Trimitr from an abandoned monastery in downtown Bangkok. On May 25th, 1953, the image crashed to the ground when the hook of the crane holding it broke under the strain.During that night, a thunderstorm raged over Bangkok. Torrents of rain fell on the cracked plaster of the giant Buddha image.
Following the rains,the abbot of Wat Trimitr undertook to clean the image,which was not only cracked,but was also covered with mud and dirt. While cleaning the Buddha image, the abbot saw glittering metal through one of the large cracks. He called other monks, the plaster was removed, and undereath was found a Buddha image of solid gold!
The Golden Buddha is 3 metres high and weighs 5.5 tons. It was one of two images left in the abandoned Wat PhyaKrai when the monastery area was taken over as part of a project to expand Bangkok's port facilities. The other image was taken to an up-country monastery. The larger image was moved with difficulty to Wat Trimitr. There was no building large enough for the image, and it was placed under a temporary shelter in a quiet corner of the monastery compound. Then came the events of May 25th, 1953. After that,the Golden Buddha was put inside the Wat Trimitr.
There is still some mystery about the origin of the Golden Buddha image, but it was probably cast during the Sukhothai period(1238-1378 A.D.). It is conjectured that the image was covered with plaster to conceal its true value from invading and looting armies.
Following the rains,the abbot of Wat Trimitr undertook to clean the image,which was not only cracked,but was also covered with mud and dirt. While cleaning the Buddha image, the abbot saw glittering metal through one of the large cracks. He called other monks, the plaster was removed, and undereath was found a Buddha image of solid gold!
The Golden Buddha is 3 metres high and weighs 5.5 tons. It was one of two images left in the abandoned Wat PhyaKrai when the monastery area was taken over as part of a project to expand Bangkok's port facilities. The other image was taken to an up-country monastery. The larger image was moved with difficulty to Wat Trimitr. There was no building large enough for the image, and it was placed under a temporary shelter in a quiet corner of the monastery compound. Then came the events of May 25th, 1953. After that,the Golden Buddha was put inside the Wat Trimitr.
There is still some mystery about the origin of the Golden Buddha image, but it was probably cast during the Sukhothai period(1238-1378 A.D.). It is conjectured that the image was covered with plaster to conceal its true value from invading and looting armies.
PO TEMPLE
Wat Po, the most extensive monastery in Bangkok, was built on the site of an older monastery known as Wat Pothraram. Although best known for its enormous reclining Buddha, it contains many other features which should not be missed.
On the huge grounds there are a large bot, four great chedi, the viharn of the Reclining Buddha, and other smaller viharn and chedi, It is suggested that tourists visit the centres of interest in Wat Po in this order:-
Scenes from the Ramayana are depicted on bas relief panels of marble on the substructure of the bot. The panels of marble were brought from the ruins of Ayutthaya after the former capital was sacked and destroyed by the Burmese in 1767.
Inside the bot. the walls are covered with murals describing episodes in the life of Lord Buddha. The ceiling is red and gold, the cross-beams are gilded, and the floor is marble. The gilded bronze sitting Buddha was brought from Wat Sala See Na, an ancient monastery in Thon Buri.
The eastern viharn contains a standing Buddha from Ayutthaya. In the southern and western viharn, there are Buddha images from Sukhothai; while in the northern viharn the Buddha is represented as being seated in the Western manner.
In the courtyard are four large chedi standing opposite the lingam. These chedi represent the first four Kings of the Chakri Dynasty.
The viharn of the great Re clinging Buddha is in the western courtyard. This image, representing the Buddha as he was attaining Nirvana, is 46 meters long and 15 meters high. The image is made of cement-covered brick, covered with gold leaf. The soles of the feet are inlaid with mother-of -pearl with the 108 signs. marks and qualities by which a true Buddha is recognized.
It is of interest to know that many of the finest temple rubbings come from the Wat Po.
On the huge grounds there are a large bot, four great chedi, the viharn of the Reclining Buddha, and other smaller viharn and chedi, It is suggested that tourists visit the centres of interest in Wat Po in this order:-
- The bot and surrounding galleries.
- The four great chedi.
- The Reclining Buddha.
The bot is located in a courtyard surrounded by double rows of galleries containing 394 sitting Buddha images. A low wall with eight small gates, each gate guarded by bronze lions, surrounds the building. The boundary stones (bot are surrounded by eight symbolic boundary stones) are housed in small pavilions crowned with spires on the wall.
The three-tiered roof of red and yellow tiles is supported by square pillars. The massive teak wood doors are inlaid with mother-of-pearl in exquisite designs.Scenes from the Ramayana are depicted on bas relief panels of marble on the substructure of the bot. The panels of marble were brought from the ruins of Ayutthaya after the former capital was sacked and destroyed by the Burmese in 1767.
Inside the bot. the walls are covered with murals describing episodes in the life of Lord Buddha. The ceiling is red and gold, the cross-beams are gilded, and the floor is marble. The gilded bronze sitting Buddha was brought from Wat Sala See Na, an ancient monastery in Thon Buri.
The eastern viharn contains a standing Buddha from Ayutthaya. In the southern and western viharn, there are Buddha images from Sukhothai; while in the northern viharn the Buddha is represented as being seated in the Western manner.
In the courtyard are four large chedi standing opposite the lingam. These chedi represent the first four Kings of the Chakri Dynasty.
The viharn of the great Re clinging Buddha is in the western courtyard. This image, representing the Buddha as he was attaining Nirvana, is 46 meters long and 15 meters high. The image is made of cement-covered brick, covered with gold leaf. The soles of the feet are inlaid with mother-of -pearl with the 108 signs. marks and qualities by which a true Buddha is recognized.
It is of interest to know that many of the finest temple rubbings come from the Wat Po.
SRAKET TEMPLE
The Golden Mount
During the normal course of sight seeing in Bangkok, tourists drive past the Golden Mount, but few ever climb to the summit. Bangkok is located on a flat without any natural hills, and the Golden Mount is an artificial hill. Outside the confines of the original city of Bangkok, the Golden Mount stands on the east side of the old city wall. It is a part of Wat Sraket.
King Rama I restored the small Wat which originally was on this site. King Rama III attempted to build a mount similar to the Golden Mount of Ayutthaya, But the structure collapsed. King Mongkut, his successor, succeeded in building the artificial hill from rubble.
The Golden Mount, though seldom visited by tourists, is a place of veneration for the pious people of Thailand.
King Rama I restored the small Wat which originally was on this site. King Rama III attempted to build a mount similar to the Golden Mount of Ayutthaya, But the structure collapsed. King Mongkut, his successor, succeeded in building the artificial hill from rubble.
The Golden Mount, though seldom visited by tourists, is a place of veneration for the pious people of Thailand.
ARUN TEMPLE
Wat Arun, or Wat Chaeng, is a world-famous landmark, at its best when seen silhouetted against the sky at dawn.Standing high on the western bank of the Cho Phaya River in Thon Buri,Bangkok's twin city, its magnificent towers rise in glorious symmetry toward the sky, with the multi-colored porcelain pieces embedded in the towers sparkling in the first rays of the sun.
It has become almost a tradition that one visits this magnificent monastery, perhaps the most photographed place in Thailand, in connection with the Floating Market Tour. The tall central tower, 76 metres high.
After the Burmese conquest of Ayutthaya, King Tak Sin (1767-1782)established the capital at Thon Buri.Wat Arun stands on the site of an ancient monastery which was ordered restored by King Tak Sin.
Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II (1809-1824) and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demons and gandharvas. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower.
This balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river.Form here one can see the Grand Palace,the Monastery of the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Po.
The towers of Wat Arun are built of brick covered with stucco. The decorations are unique; thousands of pieces of multi-colored Chinese pottery! In niches in the central tower are green figures of Indra, chief of the Vedic gods, seated on Era wan, the traditional Thai three-headed elephant. Niches in the smaller towers contain figures of the Moon God on a white horse. The trident of Shiva extends from the top of each tower.
Wat Arun figures in one of Thailand ' s most colorful festivals, the Royal Tod Kathin, during which His Majesty the King travels down the river in a procession of royal barges to present new robes to the monks after their months of Lenten discipline.
It has become almost a tradition that one visits this magnificent monastery, perhaps the most photographed place in Thailand, in connection with the Floating Market Tour. The tall central tower, 76 metres high.
After the Burmese conquest of Ayutthaya, King Tak Sin (1767-1782)established the capital at Thon Buri.Wat Arun stands on the site of an ancient monastery which was ordered restored by King Tak Sin.
Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II (1809-1824) and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demons and gandharvas. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower.
This balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river.Form here one can see the Grand Palace,the Monastery of the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Po.
The towers of Wat Arun are built of brick covered with stucco. The decorations are unique; thousands of pieces of multi-colored Chinese pottery! In niches in the central tower are green figures of Indra, chief of the Vedic gods, seated on Era wan, the traditional Thai three-headed elephant. Niches in the smaller towers contain figures of the Moon God on a white horse. The trident of Shiva extends from the top of each tower.
Wat Arun figures in one of Thailand ' s most colorful festivals, the Royal Tod Kathin, during which His Majesty the King travels down the river in a procession of royal barges to present new robes to the monks after their months of Lenten discipline.
BENCHAMABORPIT TEMPLE
WAT BENCHAMABORPIT The Marble Temple
This beautiful little monastery, often called ' Wat Bencha ' by Thais, is built of white Italian marble from Carrara. Constructed in 1899 by order of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V,1868-1910), it is Bangkok' s newest monastery, and also the finest example of modern Thai architecture in the whole country.
The Marble Monastery is located on the bank of a still-used klong (canal), not far from the King' s Palace and the National Assembly Building. In May and June, its beauty is greatly enhanced by the fiery blooms of the many royal poinciana, also called flame trees, lining the nearby streets.
The spectacular roof is covered with golden Chinese tiles, and the windows ae stained-glass set in gilded frames. Snaggle-toothed demons in bronze relief sct as supports under the windows.
This beautiful little monastery, often called ' Wat Bencha ' by Thais, is built of white Italian marble from Carrara. Constructed in 1899 by order of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V,1868-1910), it is Bangkok' s newest monastery, and also the finest example of modern Thai architecture in the whole country.
The Marble Monastery is located on the bank of a still-used klong (canal), not far from the King' s Palace and the National Assembly Building. In May and June, its beauty is greatly enhanced by the fiery blooms of the many royal poinciana, also called flame trees, lining the nearby streets.
The spectacular roof is covered with golden Chinese tiles, and the windows ae stained-glass set in gilded frames. Snaggle-toothed demons in bronze relief sct as supports under the windows.
PHRAKAEW TEMPLE
Wat Phrakaew Temple of the Emerald buddha
Located in the grounds of the Grand Palace, the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha is one of Buddhism' s most magnificent monasteries and probably the most famous place in Thailand.
This is the personal chapel of His Majesty the King of Thailand,and the Emeral Buddha itself the most sacred object to the Buddhists of Thailand.However,the lovely image is not emerald but is fashioned from a single piece of jasper and is 61 cm. high. The history of the Emerald Buddha is unusual. It was discovered in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, in 1436 AD when a crack appeared in a large plaster Buddha image.
The Emerald Buddha was discovered inside. The small emerald image then began many years of travel. First taken to Lampang, then back to Chiang Mai, the image was then moved on to Luang Prabang and thence to Vientiane, Laos. The Emerald Buddha was finally recovered by Thailand during the reign of King Tak Sin in the 18th century.
The Emerald Buddha sits under a canopy on a gilded pedestal. The gemencrusted robes are changed by the King three times each year, with different robes for the rainy, the cool and hot seasons.
There are many other things to be seen at the Wat Phar Keo, in addition to the Emerald Buddha. Inside the spacious grounds, there are other magnificent buildings set on terraces. The Golden Chedi, The murals depicting the colorful story of the Hindu epic poem, the Ramayana; the mother-of-pearl inlaid doors of the Royal Chapel; these are but a few of the fascinating attractions for tourists visiting the Wat Phra Keo.
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