Description of the attraction
Wat Ratchabophit or, formally, Wat Ratchabophit Sathin Maha Simaram Ratcha Vara Maha Vihan is part of the historical center of the Thai capital. The temple complex consists of a viharn (central building), an ubosot (room for special monastic ceremonies) and a gilded chedi (stupa) in the center.
The gilded chedi reaches a height of 43 meters, it was created in the style of Sri Lanka and topped with a golden ball, it also contains figures of Buddha in the style of the Lopburi kingdom. There are 10 doorways and 28 windows in the viharna, all of which are skillfully decorated with mother-of-pearl and pearls. Outside, the walls are full of splendor: stucco, tiles and painting. The interior decoration of the temple reflects the influence of European culture; it was during the construction of Vata Ratchabophit that the king visited Europe and was impressed by it.
The bell tower on the territory of the temple is crowned with a ceramic figure of a three-headed Naga (mythical snake) and the head of Erawan (a mythical many-headed elephant, the hypostasis of the god Indra on earth). In the western part of the temple complex, there are monuments with the ashes of minor members of the royal family.
If you walk over the canal bridge at the north end of the temple, you will see a gilded statue of a pig. The story says that the bridge was built on the initiative of one of the wives of King Rama V, for a long time it had no name. However, given that this lady was born in the year of the pig, he was given such a name. The statue appeared later in memory of the wife of Rama V.
