Wat Pathum Wanaram

Wat Pathum Wanaram
250px Wat Pathum Wanaram seen from Baiyoke Tower 2
Information
Denomination	Buddhism
Founded	1857
People
Founder(s)	King Mongkut (Rama IV)
Location
Country	Thailand
Coordinates	13.745815, 100.536537

File:Wat Pathum Wanaram.jpg

Ubosot of Wat Pathum Wanaram

Wat Pathum Wanaram (Thai: วัดปทุมวนาราม) is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the district Pathum Wan, between the two shopping malls Siam Paragon and CentralWorld, and across the street of Siam Square.

The temple was founded in 1857 by King Mongkut (Rama IV) as a place of worship near his Sa Pathum Palace. At the time of its founding the area was still only rice fields, only accessible via the Khlong Saen Saeb. The temple is a third class royal temple of the Thammayut Nikaya order. The full name of the temple is Wat Pathum Wanaram Ratcha Wora Viharn (วัดปทุมวนารามราชวรวิหาร).

The ashes of Thai Royal Family members in the line of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej are interred at the temple.

Among the various buildings of the temple is a sala partially reconstructed from the crematorium of the late Princess Mother of Thailand. The crematorium was a rare example of ancient craftsmanship featuring ornate stencils and lacquered sculptures. Known in Thai as phra men, it represents Mount Meru, the heavenly abode of the gods.

See also

• Siam District