Wat Bamrung Tham (วัดบำรุงธรรม)
Wat Bamrung Tham or the Monastery of Keeping up the Dharma is an active monastery located off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in Ban Mai Sub-district.
On site is a new monastic complex and an old de-consecrated ordination hall built in the Early Ayutthaya style (1351 - 1488 AD). The old ubosot has a single elevated porch with two entries in the east and a back door on the western side. There are three rectangular windows on the northern and southern sides. The roof is two-tiered, which is an architecture feature which took root in the Middle Ayutthaya period (1488 - 1629 AD). On the western side of the ubosot stands a two-rabbeted angled chedi. The old monastic structures are surrounded by a wall (Kamphaeng kaeo or crystal wall), separating the monastic world from the secular world.
The new ubosot was built in the Late Ayutthaya style (1629 - 1767 AD). It is a very slender hall with a three-tiered roof. The gable is beautifully ...
Wat Mongkol Thep (also spelled Wat Mongkhon Thep, วัดมงคลเทพ) is a serene Buddhist temple located in Pak Nam Subdistrict, Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand.
Originally established as a meditation center by wandering monks, it was officially declared a temple on June 3, 1999, under the Mahanikaya sect. The temple received permission to be built on October 11, 1994 on land donated to the temple.
The first abbot, Phra Athikarn Bancha Siriwichayo, was appointed as Phra Khru Phawanasitkun Wi.
The temple serves as the 27th meditation center in Chachoengsao Province.
The temple is primarily a place for meditation and Buddhist practice, with daily activities from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is known for its tranquil environment, making it a spiritual destination for worship and blessings.
The temple is renowned for its stunning golden chapel, which houses the revered Phra Buddha Pathom Maha Anantabarami Sriviriya (Somdej Ong Pathom), a beautiful Buddha statue adorned in ...
Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkhararam Rajwaramahawihan), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the city’s oldest and most revered temples.
• Origins (16th Century): The temple’s history traces back to the Ayutthaya period, with evidence suggesting it existed before Bangkok became the capital in 1782. It was initially a modest temple named Wat Photharam.
• Reconstruction (1782–1809): After establishing Bangkok as the capital, King Rama I rebuilt and expanded the temple, renaming it Wat Phra Chetuphon. This marked its rise as a major royal temple, housing sacred relics and Buddha images.
• Major Expansion (1824–1851): Under King Rama III, Wat Pho underwent significant renovations, including the construction of the iconic 46-meter-long Reclining Buddha statue, symbolizing the Buddha’s entry into Nirvana. The temple was further developed as a center for traditional Thai knowledge, earning the title “Thailand’s first university.”
• Cultural Legacy: Wat Pho became ...
Wat Saket, also known as the Golden Mount or Phu Khao Thong, is a historic Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand, with a rich history dating back to the Ayutthaya period (1350–1767). Originally named Wat Sakae, it was renovated and renamed by King Rama I (r. 1782–1809) when Bangkok became the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom.
The name “Saket” is said to derive from a legend that King Rama I stopped to bathe and wash his hair at the temple before entering the city after a war.
Key Historical Points:
1. Ayutthaya Era Origins: Established during the Ayutthaya period, Wat Saket is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples. It initially served as a crematorium for the poor, reflecting its early role in community welfare.
2. Cholera Outbreak and Dark Past: During the reign of King Rama II (r. 1809–1824), a cholera epidemic struck Bangkok, leading to the cremation of tens of thousands of bodies at Wat Saket. The temple couldn’t keep up, and bodies were left in the open, attracting vultures, earning ...
