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Wat Prayoon (Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan)

Wat Prayoon

Wat Prayoon or officially Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan sits on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River at the foot of Memorial Bridge. Construction took place during the reign of King Rama III, on an old coffee plantation. It was originally called Wat Rualek inspired by the Iron fence that surrounded it made from axes, swords, and lances. A small section of the fence remains. In 2013 the temple won an award from UNESCO for its conservation project.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Vihara & Ordination Hall

The Chedi

Wat Prayoon features a unique large white bell-shaped Lanka style chedi which contains relics of the Buddha. It was the first temple of the Rattanakosin period to feature a Lanka style chedi. There are 18 smaller chedis spread around the base.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The White Chedi

You can reach the upper terrace of the chedi by a narrow stairway accessible via the museum. There are good views of the local area from the terrace. There is a small entrance to the inside of the pagoda on the inner terrace wall. To the left of the chedi, you will see the famous red iron fence, a gate through which leads to the temples Vihara and Ordination Hall which stand side by side. The iron fence came from England and given to the temple by King Rama III.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Red Iron Fence

The Buddha Images Museum

Next to the base is a Buddha images museum that features many images, amulets and other artifacts discovered inside the base of the chedi during renovation works in 2006. In all over 270 images were found along with thousands of amulets. You can see some of the discoveries displayed in the museum.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Buddha Images Museum

The Ordination Hall

The temples Ordination Hall is to the right if looking from the Buddha Images Museum. The Buddha image inside is Phra Buddha Vishnu Prophet in the posture of suppressing Mara (conquering evil). The image is made from metal and gilded with gold plate by artisans from Japan. It was placed in the temple in 1828, the same year of the temple’s construction. The murals behind the image portray scenes from the life of the Buddha while on the surrounding walls are scenes from the Jataka.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Ordination Hall
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
The Ordination Hall
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
Phra Buddha Vishnu Prophet
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
Phra Buddha Vishnu Prophet & disciple

The Vihara

The Vihara next door contains another large image, Phra Phuttathama Wichettha Satsada. The Buddha was named by King Rama IX at a ceremony at the temple in 1992.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Vihara
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok Thailand
Phra Phuttathamma Wichettha Satsada
Wat Prayoon in Bangkok Thailand
Phra Phuttathamma Wichettha Satsada

Wat Prayoon in Bangkok Thailand
The Statue Base

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The Khao Mo Cemetery

Wat Prayoon’s other distinctive feature is the Khao Mo cemetery which is next to the temple’s main entrance. The cemetery features a collection of shrines dedicated to the deceased and a replica mountain modeled after a mound of melted candle wax set in a rock garden, surrounded by a pond and featuring spirit houses, miniature chedis, stupas, cathedrals, pavilions, a doll’s house, a grotto, and rare plants.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
Khao Mo Entrance
Khao Mo at Wat Prayoon temple in Bangkok Thailand
The Mountain
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
Khao Mo Mountain

The Mountain

The mountain is made from rocks and stones piled on top of each other. A cave in the mountain houses a reclining Buddha image. At the edge of the pond is a gothic style Mondop built-in 1885 during the reign of King Rama V. The design was by European architects the Grassi brothers who also built Bang Pa-In Palace & Buraphiphirom Palace. Luang Pho Kaek, one of Wat Prayoon’s most revered Buddha images is inside the Mondop.

Khao Mo at Wat Prayoon temple in Bangkok Thailand
Gothic Style Mondop
Khao Mo at Wat Prayoon temple in Bangkok Thailand
Luang Pho Kaek
Khao Mo at Wat Prayoon temple in Bangkok Thailand
A Buddha Mural
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
Khao Mo Turtles

Wat Prayoon Turtles

It’s a peaceful, tranquil place containing benches where you can rest awhile admiring the mountain or feeding the resident turtles and fish who inhabit the pond. A small stall sells bread, papaya, and other fruit for 20 baht a bag which you can feed the turtles using a small stick.

Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
Hi!
Wat Prayoon Temple in Bangkok
More Papaya!

Nearby

After leaving Wat Prayoon, turn left to the river underneath the memorial bridge and turn left again along a riverside walkway which leads to Santa Cruz church and further on to Wat Kalayanamit which are both worth a visit.

Where is Wat Prayoon?

Location: 24 Prachatipok Road
District: Thonburi
Opening Hours: 06.00-18.00
Admission: Free.
Rules: Dress respectfully

How to get there: Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Memorial Bridge pier. Then walk or take a taxi across the bridge. The temple is on the right just after crossing the bridge.

Maphttps://goo.gl/maps/Tc7BpCXsX7z

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