Wat Dusidaram Woravihara

Wat Dusidaram Woravihara



Wat Dusidaram Woravihara ( Wat Dusid ) is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the mouth of the Bangkok Noi Canal and the approach to the Pin Klao Bridge on the Thoburi side. It was an ancient temple called originally Wat Sao Prakhon. Somdej Phra Chao Boromawongther Kromluang Srisunthornthep, a son of King Rama I, had the temple reestablished. Krom Phrarajawang Boworn Mahasenanurak renovated the temple in 1913 and rename it Wat Dusidaram . A small, neighboring temple which was abandoned, called Wat Phumarin Rajapaksi, was also incorporated into Wat Dusidaram.





In the phra ubosot there are murals which were executed by artists of the First Reign. The murals on all four walls depict scenes from the lives of the Buddha. In front of the presiding Buddha image is a scenes of Marn Phachon. Highly praised is the scene of hell on the wall behind the presiding image, which appears very life-like.





Also of interest is the gallery running around the phra ubosot with 64 niches cut into the wall, each niche containing a standing Buddha image in the thawai netr pose. There were also murals along this gallery, but they have long since faded away. Outside the gallery walls there is a redented phra chedi decorated with plaster fish, mermaids and mythical elephant-like animals all around the base. It is commonly called the Chedi Pla or fish chedi. It is now in poor condition. There is also the old phra ubosot of Wat Phumarin Rajapaksi which, though small, is beautifully proportioned. On the gable in plaster is depicted Narai riding the Garuda and a peacock displaying its tail studded with colored glass. Another interesting structure is a rather small old phra vihara with a curved base in the shape of a junk.

Wat Boromniwas

Wat Boromniwas

Wat Boromniwas ( Wat Borom ) is near the Bo Bae Market. It was called originally Wat Nok. King Rama IV ordered the construction of this temple while he was still a monk. It was intended to be a forest temple ( Aranyawasee ) companion to Wat Bowornniwet Vihara, which was intended to be the community temple ( Khamawasee ). King Rama V ordered the temple to be renovated and renamed it Wat Boromniwas.

Of importance is the Phra Tosapholayarn, a Buddha image in the marn vichai pose that is installed as the presiding image in the phra ubosot. In the phra ubosot there are unusual murals that were painted by Khrua In Khong, the leading artist of the reign, depicting landscapes and people drawn in the Western style, similar to those found at Wat Bowornniwet Vihara. Between the windows there are scenes depicting activities of Buddhist laymen and monk, such as the ordination ceremony, presentation of robes for the monkhood, observing the precepts during Buddhist Lent, the Loy Krathong festival, Kathina robe presentation and offer picked-up robed, and making merit on the feasts of Magha Puja and Visakha Puja. Above the windows there are scenes in which the people are all Europeans and include scenes of a train and stargazing with a telescope.

Also of interest are the monks' residences and the entrance arch, which are in the European style, the work of craftsmen in the reign of King Rama V.

Wat Intharavihara

Wat Intharavihara

Wat Intharavihara ( Wat In ) is located on Visut Kasat Road, near Bang Khun Phrom Intersection opposite the Bank of Thailand . The temple was built before the founding of the capital and was originally called Wat Bang Khun Phrom Nok. It was renovated and renamed Wat Intharam when King Rama I provided land in Bang khun Phrom Sub-district for the settlement of prisoners of war from Vientiane. Chao In, an uncle of Chao Noi Khiew Khom, one of the King's chief wives, renovated the temple and invited Chao Khun Phra Aranyik, a monk who had also come from Vientiane, to preside as an abbot. Chao Inthawong , the son ofSomdej Phra Boworn Rajchao Mahasakdipholasep, was responsible for a second renovation.
Chao Khun Phra Aranyik was an expert in meditation and had once been the instructor of Somdej Phra Buddhacharn ( To ) of Wat Rakhangkhositaram, who initiated the construction of Luang Pho To, a large standing Buddha image. The construction of the image had reached only to the navel when Somdej Phra Buddhacharn died. It was completed in the reign of King Rama

VII.

Luang Pho To is a statue of the Buddha holding an alms bowl. When the statue was completed, the temple held a three-day celebration on 4-6 March, 1928, and this festival has been held annually ever since.
King Rama VI renamed the temple Wat Intharavihara because the name was the same as Wat Intharam ( Wat Bangyirua Tai ) in Thonburi. People generally refer to the temple as Wat In, Wat In Bang Khun Phrom, or Wat Luang Pho To.