Wat Pathum Wanaram, Bangkok

Wat Pathum Wanaram, Bangkok, Thailand (22 October 2006)

Wat Pathum Wanaram (GPS: 13.7459, 100.53674) or by its full name Wat Pathumwanaram Ratchaworawiharn, is a Buddhist temple in the busy Pathum Wan shopping district in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. Today it is surrounded by colossal shopping malls including Central World Plaza on one side and Siam Paragon on the other.

Wat Pathum Wanaram was built in 1857 by King Mongkut (Rama IV) as a place of worship in close proximity to his home, the Sa Pathum Palace. At that time, that area of Bangkok was all rice paddies, with Khlong Saen Saeb canal providing waterborne access to Rattanakosin.

Within the grounds of Wat Pathum Wanaram is the Phra Meru Mas, the reconstructed crematorium of the late Princess Mother of Thailand. She was cremated at Sanam Luang in March 1996. Following the cremation, her remains were transferred to Wat Pathum Wanaram on an elaborate procession.

Also kept at Wat Pathum Wanaram are the remains of Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, the first Prime Minister of Siam. It was transferred there from Penang, where he was originally buried. His cremation was carried out at Makut Kasattriyaram on 4 April, 1949.

Within the ubosot of the temple is the principal Buddha image, Phra Sai (also written Phra Saay). In the viharn is another Buddha image in the posture of subduing mara (demon). Both Buddha images were brought here from Vientiane during the reign of King Rama III.