| Wat
Suthat
Wat Suthat is on Bamrung Muang
Road in Bangkok and is famous for the excellent murals created in
the reign of King Rama III. The Wihara (preaching hall) should be
seen for its collection of gilded Buddha images. A huge door with
intricate carving, which is the masterpiece of King Rama II, once
belonged to this temple and is now kept in the National Museum.
In front of the temple is the Giant Swing or Sao Ching Cha, where
a Brahmanic ceremony had taken place until the early 20th century.
Many nearby shops stock a very comprehensive range of Buddhist religious
supplies.
Wat Suthat
was constructed in 1807 after the 27th anniversary of the founding
of Bangkok by King Rama I. The main wihan is surrounded by a cirulambutory
area of three levels. On the uppermost level are mounted small
chapels for each of its fours corners. Phra Sisakayamuni, the
main Buddha image, is larger and older than any other bronze cast
Buddha image in Thailand. The base of the image is 6.25 metres
wide and has a height of 8 metres.
The cloisters
surrounding the wihan contain dozens of Buddha images. The compound
is very large and sometimes very quiet. The ordination Hall (or
ubosot) is said to be one of the most beautiful in Thailand and
very large in size. The 72 metre high structure is supported by
68 pillars. Phra Putatrilokachet is a Buddha image cast in bronze.
It is 5.20 metres in width and 8.45 metres in height. Surrounding
the ubosot can be found many Chinese statues which were originally
used as ballast for ships.
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