Wat Arun (1st Class Royal Temple)

Originnally an Ayutthaya-era shrine known as Wat Makok, it gained exceptional royal importance during the Thonburi Kingdom when King Taksin established his capital nearby and the temple became known as Wat Chaeng. The Emerald Buddha was temporarily enshrined here before being transferred to Wat Phra Kaew following the establishment of Bangkok. During the reigns of Kings Rama II and Rama III, the temple was extensively enlarged and its magnificent central prang, rising more than 70 metres, was decorated with intricate porcelain and ceramic fragments. The complex expresses Hindu-Buddhist cosmology, with the central prang symbolising Mount Meru, while figures of gods, demons and celestial beings reinforce its sacred symbolism. The temple remains closely associated with royal Buddhist ceremonies, including the Royal Kathin procession, and the ashes of King Rama II are enshrined beneath the principal Buddha image. 

 

Wat Ratcha Orasaram (1st Class Royal Temple)

A landmark of the architectural innovation of King Rama III’s restoration initiative, it produced what scholars identify as one of the earliest and most important royal Sino-Siamese Buddhist temples, combining traditional Thai religious planning with Chinese architectural forms, roof tiles, auspicious motifs, glazed ceramics and distinctive Chinese-style decorative elements. The temple’s murals are also notable for their Chinese-inspired themes and realistic imagery, reflecting the close commercial and cultural relationship between Siam and China during Rama III’s reign. Its ubosot, Buddha images and royal associations demonstrate that the Chinese influence was incorporated within, rather than replacing, the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Wat Ratcha Orasaram is therefore highly significant as a tangible expression of Thailand’s ability to absorb foreign artistic influences while creating a distinctive national Buddhist architectural identity.

 

Wat Rakhang Khositaram (2nd Class Royal Temple)

During the reign of King Rama I, a remarkably resonant ancient bell was discovered within the temple grounds; the bell was subsequently moved to Wat Phra Kaew, and the monastery became known as Wat Rakhang, or the Temple of the Bell. The temple has an especially distinguished Buddhist scholarly tradition: its historic Tripitaka Hall (Ho Phra Trai) preserves valuable Buddhist scriptures and paintings, while the monastery is closely associated with Somdet Phra Buddhacarya (To Phromrangsi), one of Thailand’s most revered nineteenth-century monks and the spiritual figure behind the famous Phra Somdej amulets. Wat Rakhang consequently represents the continuity of royal patronage, Buddhist scholarship, sacred art and monastic leadership across three major phases of Bangkok’s history.

 

Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen (3rd Class Royal Temple)

Founded during the Ayutthaya period, Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen is a Third-Class Royal Temple strategically situated among the canals of Thonburi. Although historically important as an old royal monastery, its greatest transformation occurred in the twentieth century when Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro became its abbot and revitalised the temple from a declining institution into a major centre of Buddhist discipline, meditation and education. Under his leadership, the monastery grew dramatically and developed important Pali and Buddhist educational programmes, establishing an influence that continues today. The temple’s modern skyline is dominated by the 69-metre Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol, a monumental bronze Buddha in meditation posture, completed in 2021, reinforcing Wat Paknam’s role as a contemporary pilgrimage landmark. The temple therefore connects Thailand’s centuries-old Theravada tradition with modern Buddhist education, meditation, philanthropy and international religious networks.

 

Maharatchamongkhon Chedi Museum

Situated within the grounds of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, the Maharatchamongkhon Chedi is a major 21st-century Buddhist monument completed in 2012 and rising approximately 80 metres across five levels. Dedicated to the Thai royal institution and incorporating Rattanakosin and Lanna architectural influences, the structure combines the traditional functions of a chedi with museum, meditation and educational spaces. Its interior preserves Buddhist images, relics, monastic artefacts, historic objects and exhibitions relating to the lives and teachings of important figures associated with Wat Paknam, particularly Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro and Somdet Chuang. The upper levels present an elaborate interpretation of Buddhist cosmology, drawing on traditional texts such as the Traibhumikatha and the legend of Phra Malai, and culminating in the luminous emerald-green glass Phra Maha Chedi Kaeo. The chedi thus bridges ancient practices of relic veneration and Buddhist cosmology with modern museum interpretation and architecture, making it an important symbol of the continuing evolution of Thai Buddhist art and religious heritage.