Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร , Bangkok

Wat Ratchanadaram, Bangkok, Thailand (29 August, 2006)


Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (GPS: 13.75451, 100.50361; Thai: วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร ) is a royal temples of the third grade in Bangkok, Thailand. Its name means "Royal Niece" because it was built by King Rama III in 1846 for his niece, Princess Mom Chao Ying Sommanus Wattanavadi. She later became the queen and consort to King Rama IV, who built Wat Sommanat Worawihan to remember her.

The name of this temple is variously written in English as Wat Ratchanaddaram, Wat Rajnadda and Wat Ratchanadda, among others. It is located between Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and Mahachai Road, in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok, across Mahachai Road from the Golden Mount.

The viharn, or ordination hall, of Wat Ratchanatdaram is parallel to the canal. Built in the style of Rama III, the viharn has square supporting pillars around it. Inside it is a copper Buddha image. It was placed there in 1864 by King Rama III. King Rama IV named it Phra Setthamuni.

To the west of the viharn is Loha Prasat, or metal pagoda, which I describe in a page of its own.

There is an amulet market at Wat Ratchanatdaram. The amulets, or talisman, is wore as protection against malevolent spirits as well as to ward off misfortune. Most Thai people who are Buddhist carry at least one amulet with them at all times. The majority of these amulets bear the image of statues from famous wats. Some show holy men, Thai kings (the most popular being Rama V), and quite interestingly, a many-armed monk with his hands closing his eyes, his ears and his mouth, to give him better concentration, but to the outsider, appears like a human version of the hear-no-evil, see-no-evil, say-no-evil monkey. Also common are Hindu deities.

In 2005, Wat Ratchanatdaram and the Loha Prasat were submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future World Heritage Site. Wat Ratchanatdaram is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm and admission is free.

Getting there

Wat Ratchanatdaram is located along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, at the junction with Mahachai Road. As the Skytrain and Metro do not pass anywhere near here, the best way to reach Wat Ratchanatdaram is by taxi. Be sure to visit the nearby sights as well.

Location: Ratchadamnoen Road / Mahachai Road
Opening hours: 9:00am-4:00pm Entrance fees: none

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan is on the map of Wats in Bangkok

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan is on the Map of Bangkok

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List of Wats in Bangkok and Wats in Thailand; list of Districts of Bangkok

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