Wat Somanasvihara Rajaworavihara (Wat Som)

Wat Somanasvihara Rajaworavihara
(Wat Som)

     Wat Somanasvihara Rajaworavihara (Wat Som) is located on Phadung Krungkasem Road and canal on the Nang Loeng market side. King Rama IV ordered the construction of the temple in 1853 to honor and make merit for Princess Somanas Wattanawadee Phra Borom Rajathevee. The temple has thick and high walls. There are two lines of sema, or boundary stones, as there are at Wat Makutkasattriyaram.

     The gables of the phra ubosot are a blending of the Thai and the Chinese architectural styles. Inside there are murals that were painted by artists in the reign of King Rama IV showing scenes from the scriptures, the lives of the Buddha, and senior monks looking at a corpse. On the door and window panels there are pictures of the Seven Gems and other scenes and in the monks' residences there are paintings on glass in the Chinese style. All these are of considerable interest.

     Other important buildings include the phra vihara, cloister and phra chedi which were built as a group. The cloister extends from the rear of the phra vihara and encircles the phra chedi, and in it, there are 96 standing Buddha images in various poses. The gables of the phra vihara are decorated with colored and golden tiles that were a symbol of King Rama IV and Phra Borom Rajathevee.

     Unique features are the murals depicting the story of Inao inside the phra vihara and the circular belfry and drum tower with Chinese-style roofs in which the windows are circular.

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Address Location : Wat Sommanat, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Official Website: www.watsomanas.com

Tag: Wat Somanasvihara Rajaworavihara / Wat Som / Somanasvihara Rajaworavihara Temple / Som Teple / Wat Somanasvihara Rajaworavihan / Somanasvihara Rajaworavihan Temple