Wat Prayurawongsawas
preserving a cultural heritage

Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawiharn, (pra-yu-ra-wong-sa-wat wo-ra-wi-harn) a Buddhist temple in Thonburi, Bangkok has the distinction of winning the Award of Excellence in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation on 9 September 2013. 

The temple is also called Wat Prayoon and locally Wat Rua Lek (rua – fence lek – iron) and we shall find out later why.

During a local festival in Thonburi in January 2014, a highlight of the festival was the presentation of this Award of Excellence for the restoration of the 60.5m-high chedi in this temple.

The temple is a second class royal temple that was built by Somdej Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawong (Dit Bunnag). Construction of this temple commenced in 1828 with the donation of this nobleman’s coffee garden for the temple.

The temple wasn’t completed when it was presented to King Rama III who named it Wat Prayurawongsawas. It was Dit Bunnag’s son Chap Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag) who completed the temple in 1855 in the reign of King Rama IV.

To get there, please see map to Wat Prayurawongsawas.

Phra Borommathat Chedi

Phra Borommthat Chedi

Note:

*The chedi at Wat Thammongkol in Soi Sukhumvit 101, Phra Khanong is 94.74 m with 14 stories. This is the highest chedi in Thailand.

In 1871, lightning struck the Phra Borommthat chedi and the damage was only repaired in 1918. Within the crypts in this chedi, numerous old Buddha relics were stored.

In 2005, the chedi was found to be tilting by a metre. After technical studies by engineers a major restoration effort was made from 2007 – 2008. Though most of the restoration work was completed during this period, the critical problem of correcting the tilt of the central pillar in the chedi was not resolved until 2010.

It was during the restoration that many Buddha relics were discovered inside the chedi. On 5 November 2007 300 Buddha statues were found in the crypts and on 7 November 2007 another 1,000 statues were discovered.

Prayoon Bhandakhan Museum – Buddha Image Museum

The Buddha relics are displayed in the adjoining Parindra Pariyattidharma Sala Building which used to be a public library and renamed Prayoon Bhandakhan Museum. Incidentally the restoration included the museum building and the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conservation Award covers the museum as well.

The museum is the single storey white building between the chedi
and the red-roof building

The museum was officially opened by HRH Crown Princess Sirindhorn on 11 December 2008 on the 180th anniversary of Wat Prayurawongsawas.

The Buddha relics displayed in the museum cover several periods going back as far as the 11th C. Here are some of the samples:

• U-Thong – 11th – 13th C
• Dvaravati – 12th C
• Lamphun/Lopburi/Sukhothai – 13th 14th C
• Chiang Saen – 13th – 15th C
• Ayutthaya – 16th – 17th C

Note

Please remove your footwear before entering the museum.

No photographs are allowed inside the museum.

Rock garden – Turtle Mountain

The third attraction in Wat Prayurawongsawas is the rock garden. The garden is designed with rocks that appear like a miniature mountain in a lake that’s teeming with turtles, hence the name Turtle Mountain or Khao Mo (Mo is from the Khmer word meaning rock).

Khao Mo – the rock garden

The rock display is 30 m high, 48 m in length and 42 m wide. The inspiration for this miniature rock mountain came from the idea of molten candle wax piling up to form a mound.

Scene straight out of a picture book

There’s a chedi right on top together with pavilion, shrines and a prang (rectangular pagoda). Besides these miniatures, there’s a life-size pavilion for visitors to relax and feed the turtles in the pond.

A particular monument in the garden deserves special mention and this is the Three-Cannon Monument. The monument is in memory of those who died in a tragic accident during a celebration in the temple in 1836.

Three Cannon Monument

Fireworks were inserted in the cannon and lit. Unfortunately one of the cannon barrels exploded when the fireworks ignited. Seven people lost their lives and several lost their limbs.

The other feature of the rock garden worth noting is the fence separating the garden from the main road. The design of the fence with the crossed battle-axes appears to be European.

For this reason the locals call the temple Wat Rua Lek (Iron Fence Temple). The garden is popular with the local residents who wish to have a peaceful day relaxing in the pavilion feeding the turtles or just strolling around the pond to admire the scenery.

Pavilion in the garden

Here’s a satellite map of Wat Prayurawongsawas showing the location of these three main attractions.

View Layout of Wat Prayurawongsawas in a larger map

Map to Wat Prayurawongsawas

View Map to Wat Prayurawongsawas in a larger map

Back to top

How to get there

Take the Green Line (BTS Skytrain) to S6 Saphan Taksin Station. Go below the bridge to the Sathorn Pier and board a Chao Phraya river boat to the N6 Memorial Bridge Pier. Cross the bridge and the temple is about 250 m from the Thonburi end of the bridge.

The bridge is about 220 m long and all in it’s about 500 m walk. The white chedi can be seen as you are crossing Memorial Bridge.

Or take the MRT Blue Line to BL32 Itsaraphap then take a taxi to the temple.

The chedi viewed from Memorial Bridge

Opening times

The temple is open every day from 6 am – 6 pm. Admission is free.

Gaining UNESCO recognition for its conservation efforts is a commendable achievement by Wat Prayurawongsawas. The Buddha images in the museum are also invaluable historical relics. The beautiful rock garden is an oasis of peace and tranquility, a precious sanctuary to seek relief in these troubled times.

Peace and tranquility

For more Bangkok Temples.

My Journey through Thailand Part I The First Steps

This is my second e-book and the first in the series of travel journals on my trips to explore the various provinces in Thailand. This edition, which covers my travels from late 2009 to mid-2013, will guide you to historical sites, cultural monuments and exquisite Thai handicraft, across a vast spectrum of cultural and ethnic diversity.

You can have a virtual tour with this e-guide book or take the first steps yourself in this journey through Thailand.

My Kindle edition