Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram
The Siam Society organizes an excursion visiting four renowned Buddhist temples in Bangkok. These temples have one thing in common, they were built by order of King Mongkut.
Prince Mongkut was born in 1804. He was the grandson of King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty, and the son of King Rama II, who ascended the throne in 1809. Prince Mongkut was the king's eldest son by the queen.
At the age of 20 he was ordained a monk, with the ceremony taking place in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. When King Rama III died in 1851, the Accession Council decided to invite Prince Mongkut to succeed to the throne. Historians often refer to him as King Rama IV, the fourth monarch in the Chakri dynasty.
King Mongkut remained in the monk order for 27 years before ascending to the throne. During the 17 years of his reign (from 1851-1868), five new temples were built at his behest and about fifty restored.
During the July 9 excursion led by Euayporn Kerdchouay, participants will visit four of the five temples built during his reign. Those are:
- Wat Ratchapradit Satit Mahasemaram, one of the most important temples in Thailand;
- Wat Sommanat Ratchawora Wiharn which was built as a memorial to Queen consort Somanass Waddhanawathy;
- Wat Makut Kasatriyaram which is named after King Mongkut;
- Wat Pathum Wanaram, located between the two malls, Siam Paragon and CentralWorld.
The fee for the excursion is 3.300 baht (2.800 baht for members). You can only join if you are fully vaccinated. E-mail [email protected] or call 02-661-6470-3 ext 504 and 506.