Photos of Chitralada Palace

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram, Dusit District, Bangkok, Thailand. by samurai2565

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram is a Buddhist temple ( Wat ) in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple, it is one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction. It typifies Bangkok's ornate style of high gables, stepped-out roofs and elaborate finials. Construction of the temple began in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn after building his palace nearby. The temple's name literally means the Temple of the fifth King located nearby Dusit Palace. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble. It has a display of carrarra marble pillars, a marble courtyard and two large singhas (lions) guarding the entrance to the bot. The interiors are decorated with crossbeams of lacquer and gold, and in shallow niches in the walls of paintings of important stupas all over the country. The cloister around the assembly hall houses 52 images of Buddha. Inside the ordination hall ( Ubosot ) is a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue named Phra Buddhajinaraja, cast in 1920 after the original located in Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok. The main Buddha image is a copy of Phra Buddha Chinarat that resides in Phitsanulok in northern Thailand. The ashes of King Chulalongkorn are buried beneath the statue. In the gallery surrounding the ordination hall are 52 Buddha statues each showing different mudras ( signs ), collected by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab for his king. The image of the temple's facade is visible on the reverse side of the Five-Baht coin of the Thai currency. The site contains the Benchamabophit National Museum. Merit makers come to the monks of the temple for getting alms every morning. Between 6-7:30 in the morning, the monks line up on Nakhon Phantom with their bowls to receive donations of curry, rice, lotus buds, incense,toiletries and other essentials. The evening candlelight procession around the bot during the Buddhist festivals of Maha Puja ( in February ) and Visakha Puja ( in May ) are common for this temple. It is built from carrara marble imported from Italy, hence the name marble temple. The entrance is marked by four impressive marble pillars, and even the large courtyard is made of shiny white marble. The temple is a magnificent example of the Bangkok architectural style with its multi tiered roofs, elegant chofahs at the top end of the roof and the beautiful gold carvings. The white marble and the golden decorated windows give the Ubosot a delightful appearance, especially in the sunlight. On either side of the entrance is a large stone lion, guarding the temple. The Phra Buddha Chinnarat Buddha image Inside the Ubosot or ordination hall you will find the main Buddha image of the marble temple, the Phra Buddha Chinnarat in subduing Mara position with a beautiful illuminated blue background. The image is a copy of the original Phra Buddha Chinnarat, a magnificent 7 centuries old image located in the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat temple in Phitsanulok province. Under the bronze Buddha statue, the ashes of King Rama V are buried. On the left and right walls you will find niches with paintings of important stupas from across Thailand. In the galleries surrounding the Ubosot you will find a display of 52 Buddha images dating from several periods and in various styles like Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Dvaravati style. Behind the Ubosot is a Bodhi tree, that was brought over from Bodhgaya in India, where the Buddha reached enlightenment. A Dhamma lecture hall close to the Ubosot was used by King Chulalongkorn to listen to Dhamma sessions. Some more structures around the Wat are the abbots living quarters and a bell tower. The Wat Benchamabophit is an active temple, the monks private living quarters are across the canal separated from the temple area. Starting around 6 am, people from outside the temple come here to bring food offerings to the monks unlike other temples, where the monks go out on the street to receive food. How to get to the Wat Benchamabophit The Wat Benchamabophit is located on the intersection of Thanon Rama V and Thanon Si Ayutthaya. Since there is no BTS Sky train or MRT Subway station nearby, the best way to get there is by metered taxi. A visit to the marble temple can easily be combined with the Vimanmek Mansion and the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, since they are just a few hundred meters apart. Admission & opening hours The temple is open daily from 8 am until 5:30 pm. Admission is 20 Thai Baht. As in any temple please dress appropriately, especially since this is one temple of highest importance in the country. Address 69 Rama V Road, Chitralada, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand
Chitralada Palace (ไทย: พระตำหนักจิตรลดารโหฐาน) is a tourist attraction, one of the Royal residences in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located: 17 km from Bang Su, 20 km from Amphoe Bang Kruai, 31 km from Nondha Buri. Read further
Post a comment
Arrange By:
There are no comments yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)

Tourist attractions shown on this image

Important copyright information