Wat Rakhangkhositaram Woramahavihara (Wat Rakhang)

Wat Rakhangkhositaram Woramahavihara
(Wat Rakhang)

     Wat Rakhangkhositaram Woramahavihara (Wat Rakhang) is situated on the Thonburi side, opposite Tha Chang Wang Luang Pier. Wat Rakhangkhositaram was originally called Wat Bang Wa Yai and was an ancient temple built during the Ayutthaya Period. King Taksin raised its status to that of a royal temple and had it used as the site of a Buddhist council to recompile the tripitaka. In the First Reign, an ancient bell was discovered on the temple grounds and since that time the temple has been known as Wat Rakhang, or the Temple of the Bell. King Rama I had the bell, which had good tone, removed to Wat Phrasrirattana Sassadaram.

     The important buildings include the Golden Palace, where King Taksin and the Supreme Patriarch (Sri) resided, and the phra ubosot and tripitaka tower built in the First Reign and decorated with murals. A building in Wat Rakhangkhositaram that is considered a beautiful example of Thai architecture is the tripitaka tower. Originally this tower was in the middle of a pond that was dug behind the phra ubosot. The tower consists of three identical structures built from timber removed from a palace in which King Rama I had resided before ascending the throne. The outside walls are painted with red ochre while the inside walls are covered with murals depicting the daily life of that time painted by Acharn Nak. The door panels are decorated with lai rod nam designs and beautiful carvings. There are also the large tripitaka bookcases dating from the Ayutthaya Period in the north and south rooms.

View Wat Rakhang Worawihan in a larger map

Official Website: www.watrakang.com

Tag: Wat Rakhangkhositaram Woramahavihara / Wat Rakhang / Rakhangkhositaram Woramahavihara temple / Wat Rakhang temple / Rakhangkhositaram Worawihan / Wat Rakhang Worawihan / Wat Rakang