Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

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About Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

Wat Pavaranivesh Vihara Rajavaravihara, also known as Wat Bowon Niwet Wihan Ratchaworawihan, is a major Buddhist temple located in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok, Thailand. This temple is not only a place of worship but also a historical site, being the residence of Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. It is also the final resting place of two former kings of the Chakri Dynasty, King Vajiravudh Rama VI and King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX.

The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya order of Thai Theravada Buddhism and houses the shrine-hall of Phra Phuttha Chinnasi, a statue of the Buddha dating back to around 1357. Bowonniwet has been a major temple of patronage for the ruling Chakri dynasty. It is where many royal princes and kings studied and served their monkhood, including King Bhumibol and his son, the present king Vajiralongkorn.

The architecture of the temple is a sight to behold. The golden chedi at the wat's shrine carries the relics and ashes of Thai royals. The two viharas are closed to the public. The T-shaped bot holds a magnificent Sukhothai-period Buddha, cast in 1257 CE to celebrate freedom from the Khmers. The murals on the bot's interior walls were traditionally light and limited in their subject matter and style. They were painted to appear three-dimensional. Monk artist Khrua In Khong introduced Western style in the murals depicting Buddhist subjects.

The temple is a jewel of Bangkok, regularly visited by locals and tourists alike. On important days, people walk with lighted candles around Phra Ubosatha, the Ordination Hall. This royal temple houses two of the three most important and most beautiful bronze Buddha Images made during the Sukhothai Period, Phra Buddha Chinnasi and Phra Sri Sasada. The other image, Phra Buddha Chinnarat, is now housed in Phitsanulok Province.

Wat Bowon is a great temple under royal patronage. At present, the funeral for the head abbot is going on. Visitors should note that proper dress is required to enter the temple complex. Inappropriate dress such as shorts and tank tops may not be allowed. There is no facility to lend a dress like at the royal palace or Wat Phra Keaw, so it is advised to dress properly before visiting. There is no entrance fee.

Wat Bowonniwetwiharn is historically important for being the location where several Thai kings resided during their monkhood years, including King Rama IV, King Rama VII, and King Rama IX. The Wiharn room features an ancient Buddha statue (circa 1350), nice wall murals, window carvings, and general decor. The statues and figures found throughout the temple grounds are also worth seeing. There is a large golden chedi that visitors can walk around as well as ceremonial halls built with a blend of Thai and European architectural styles. These are attractive and unique buildings to see, enter, and take pictures of.

Wat Bowonniwet (or Boworniwet, as the locals spell it) is fascinating for a variety of reasons. It was where the current King Bhumibol received his training and ordination into the monkhood. The temple houses a very nice Sukothai Buddha image inside from Phitsanulok. The large chedi out back has modern clean lines. One of its structures has a Chinese style broken-pottery rooftop. The temple also has a strong local following that makes it uplifting at all times of day. Donations are taken up as necessary from locals via the placement of long steel wires to which are affixed Baht bills, into blocks of Styrofoam in large vases out front. No one steals the money, and in the end, the vases appear to be filled with Baht-bill flowers. Visitors will feel part of a community there, even if they are not interested in architectural design or engineering.