Wat Prayurawongsawas Woravihara (Wat Prayoon)

Wat Prayurawongsawas Woravihara
(Wat Prayoon)

      Wat Prayurawongsawas Woravihara (Wat Prayoon) is situated near the approach to the Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge, on the Thonburi side of the river. Somdej Chao Phraya Barom Maha Prayurawong (Dis Bunnag), or Somdej Chao Phraya Ong-Yai, ordered its construction in 1828. People generally call it Wat Rua Lek because Somdej Chao Phraya Ong-Yai had cast iron fences imported from England and presented them to King Rama III for using in the Grand Palace. The fences, however, were not to the King's satisfaction so Phraya Prayurawong asked that they be used in a temple instead, and in their place, presented the King with a quantity of sugar equal to the iron in weight.

     The phra ubosot is in the Thai style. The gable is decorated with the bunnag (rose chestnut) flower design. In The phra vihara is enshrined the Phra Buddhanak Noi image, which is believed to have been brought down from Sukhothai. There are also many other things of interest, such as the cast iron fences imported from England in the form of swords, spears, and axes.

     The large chedi houses holy relics as well as the ashes of members of the Bunnag family. Near the main gate there is an artificial mountain Khao Tao, on the top of which there is a small chapel and chedi. At the base of the mountain there is a pool in which live many tortoises. Nearby is a memorial in the form of a cannon commemorating an incident in 1837 when a monk used a cracked cannon to make a fireworks display and the cannon exploded, causing the deaths of the monk and seven other people.

View Wat Prayurawongsawas Woravihara Larger Map

Official Website: www.watprayoon.org


Address Location: Prachathipok Rd., Thon Buri, Bangkok, Thailand

Tag: Wat Prayurawongsawas Woravihara  / Wat Prayoon / Prayurawongsawas Woravihara Temple / Prayoon Temple / Prayun Wongsawat Worawihan / Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawihan