- Wat Bnchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
Wat Benchamabopitr Dusitvanaram (simply called Wat Benchamabopitr) or “The Marble Temple” as known to foreigners is most satisfactory architecturally with its symmetry and lovely proportions. The Uposatha Hall (Bot or Ordination Hall) was constructed from Carrara marble from Italy and showing distinct European neo-classical influence. It was designed by H.R.H. Prince Narisranuvattivongse, half brother to King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, and has been reckoned for its architectural and decorative arts of finest Thai craftsmanship, say, second to none in the world. It attracts the interest of tourists throughout the world to come to visit with a large number each year.
- Wat Benchamabopitr is a royal monastry belonging to first class ranking of Rajavaravihara. It covers the area of about 12 acres, locating in Dusit District of central Bangkok with just a distance of five to ten minute-walking to H.M. the King’s Chitralada Palace in the northeast, Dusit Palace and the Parliament House in the North-west, and the Government House in the south. The four main roads passing nearby the temple are the Rama V Road in the east, Sri Ayudhya Road in the north, Rajadamnuennok Avenue in the west, and Phitsanulok Road in the South. Wat Benchamabopitr was founded by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of the Chakri Dynastry on 1 March 1900 (counded as Thai 1899). The layout was very well-planned and demarcated by Buddha quarter (Buddhavas like the Uposatha Hall, etc.), monk living quarter (Sanghavas like the monk cells, schools, etc.), and lay helper living quarter outside the southern fence.
- Historycal Background
Wat Benchamabopitr was built on the site of an old temple which was at different times called Wat Laem or Wat Saithong ofwhich the origin was not known. In the reign of King Rama III, its name was firstly mentioned in Thai history that in 1826 Prince Anuvong of Vientiane, Kingdom of Laos at that time, revolted against Thai Kingdom and moved his troops through northeastern Thailand until to Khorat plateau to attack Bangkok capital. King Rama III had ordered to call up armies vigorously and sent three organized fighting forces to defeat Laotiane troops at the Khorat plateau. At the same time, he appointed Prince Bibidh Bhogabhubendra, a son of King Rama II as chief commander to organize the army to defend Bangkok. The site of Wat Laem or Wat Saithong was the headquarters of the chief commander of the central armies. Within a few days, Anuvong’s troops were defeated at the Khorat plateau before marching down to Bangkok. After the war, in gratitude of the temple, Prince Bibidh Bhogabhubendra together with his full four brothers and sisters had restored this temple and erected five pagodas (chedi) in row in front of the temple in 1827-1828. In the reign of King Mongkut, Rama IV, the King was pleased to rename the temple “Wat Benchabopitr” meaning the temple of the five princes and princesses.
- Phra Buddhajinaraja
Phra Buddhajinaraja is the main Buddha of the Uposatha Hall. The image is a replica of Phra Buddhajinaraja at Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhatu, Phitsanulok province. The image is in bronze, seated with one leg above the other, in the attitude of subduing mara, the knee-span width is about 1.90 meter and the image required 2.5 tons of bronze. It is enshrined on the throne with a balustrade in front. The arched flame as appears today had been rebuilt by King Rama VII to have replaced the old one of which the workmanship was unsatisfactory. In casting the image, King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, had ordered Phra Prasiddhi Patima gone to mould from the original model at Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhatu in Phitsanulok province. After his approval, the king had graciously presided over the casting ceremony on 20 October 1901 and the casting had been undertaken in separated pieces. The image was then transported by water to the foundry of the royal navy to be finished. After that the image had been shifted to the boat marching in procession to have it enshrined in the Uposatha Hall on 13 December 1901. Having seen all the works from moulding, casting and finishing had been well done, the king was too pleased to put on a sash of diamonds worn by royalty to Buddha image on 12 December 1901, a day before enshrining it in the Uposatha Hall. Even after the enshrining, the king was also pleased to have taken off his sash of Decoration of the Highest Order of Nopharatana Rajavarabhorn to be presented to the Buddha image. At the end of the year 1909, the king had ordered to employ Mr. Tsuruhara, a teacher of the School of Craftsmanship, Tokyo, to come to paint the image in gold. After finishing, the king ordered to have organized the celebration of Phra Buddhajinaraja on 5 August 1910. That ended the period of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, as he passed away on 23 October 1910.
- Admission 20B. open 8am-5.30pm daily
- Wat Ben is diagonally opposite Chitlada Palace. Bus Nos 503 (air-con) and 72 stop nearby
