Wat Chakkrawat Ratchawat
Wat Chakkrawat Ratchawat Woramahawiharn, also spelled Wat Chakkawat Ratcha Wat Woramahawiharn, is one of Bangkok’s historic temples, originally called Wat Sam Pluem. During the reign of King Rama III, Chao Phraya Borodindecha (Sing Singhasen) undertook a major renovation, including digging a canal to bring water from the Chao Phraya River to the temple’s pond. The restoration took six years to complete.
Monks from other temples were invited to reside here, and in 1825 (B.E. 2368), the temple was officially presented to the King and designated as a Royal Temple. A Buddha image named Phrabang was installed in the Wiharn (main assembly hall).
During the Royal Kathin Robe Ceremony, King Rama III noticed that the Wiharn’s base was higher than the Ubosot (main chapel). As a result, Chao Phraya Borodindecha constructed a new Ubosot and converted the old Ubosot into the Wiharn.
In the reign of King Rama IV, the Phrabang image was returned to Luang Phrabang in Laos, and a replacement Buddha image named Phranak was relocated from a Buddhist shrine inside the Grand Palace.
Today, Wat Chakkrawat Ratchawat remains a significant historical and cultural site in Bangkok.
