Wat Benchamabophit
The Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram temple in Bangkok is special for many reasons, but especially because it is made out of imported Italian Carrara marble, and is a fusion of Thai and 19th-century European design with Victorian-style stained-glass windows, depicting scenes from Thai mythology.
It’s located in the Dusit district of Bangkok, and the name is pretty descripted when translated into English: the temple of the fifth King located nearly the Dusit palace.
The construction of this temple began in 1899. King Chulalongkorn had just built his palace in the neighbourhood, and he took a liking in European arts and architecture. His ashes are stored in this temple, beneath a famous Buddha statue.
The Buddha Statue: Phra Buddha Chinnarat
One of the most important objects in this temple is Phra Buddha Chinnarat (alternative English writing: Phra Buddhajinaraja). This statue is quite new – it was cast in the 1920′s, as a replica of an older Buddha statue from Phitsanulok, a city several hundred kilometers north of Bangkok. The statue is considered particularly beautiful, made in the Sukhothai style.
What you see in the picture is the ubosot (ordination hall, see basic Thai temple architecture terms).
The temple was designed by one of his half-brothers, Prince Naris.
If you have ever been to Thailand, you have probably seen the image of this temple many times already and even hold it in your hands, maybe without knowing so. Because it is featured on the five baht coin of Thailand (that is about 16 US-cent or 11 Euro-cent).
Thai writing: วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนารามราชวรวิหา, and in English it is often also written as Wat Benjamabopit
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