See Khlong Bangkok Noi and it's treasures on a Khlong Bang Khun Thian Google Map by #Mykrungthep
If you would like to see an old Thai-style wooden library, if you would like to take part in the unique Chak Phra Festival or if you like to move in the foodsteps of James Bond, you are in the right place along this khlong. Let's start at Wat Paknam, where Khlong Bang Khun Thian leaves Khlong Bangkok Yai. Soon you arrive at Wat Khun Chan (วัดขุนจันทร์)
Pictures by Kitwora
Picture by Dragowen
Wat Absornsawan (วัดอัปสรสวรรค). It is unique for its 28 Buddha statues (Prathans) in the Mara Wichai posture presiding over a Chinese-influenced ubosot (main chapel). Unique is also its Thai-style wooden library, built during the reign of King Rama IV. The doors and windows are decorated with gold lacquer paintings of apsaras and flowers, exterior walls laced with gold and silver mirrors. The library is packed with 13 gilded book cabinets.
Picture by BeBe
Picture by BeBe
Picture by BeBe
Wat Nang Chi (วัดนางชี). There is no record, when exactly this temple has been founded. Burt it wasre-established in the period of King Rama III, he named it Wat Nangchee Shotikaram. At the Ubosot you find the statue of a deity standing on a lion. Then you find Phra Boromasaririkathat (a relic of Buddha) and relics of his disciples. Annually these relics are celebrated in the Chak Phra (ประเพณีชักพระ, pulling of Buddha images) festival, that is held on the second day of the waning moon in the 12th lunar month. This is the only Chak Phra event held in Bangkok. The Buddha images are put on boats and paddled from Wat Nang Chi via Khlong Bangkok Yai and Khlong Bangkok Noi to Wat Kai Tia (วัดไก่เตี้ย). Then the procession returns along Khlong Bangkok Noi to Chao Phraya River, afterwards it turns into Khlong Bangkok Yai, goes down Khlong Bang Khun Tian and ends at Wat Nang Chi. Boat racing, flower parades on boats and pleng rue, traditional singers leading the boat containing the Buddha's relics, are also part of the festival. Read a blog in Thai about the procession here and see a picture of the procession:
Picture by Webboard, where you can see more of this day.
Wat Nang Chi was also a location in the James-Bond-Film "The man with the golden gun", as well as Wat Nang Nong (see the locations).
See also pictures by Udo Radlhammer
Wat Nak Prok (วัดนาคปรก) is a Theravada temple and was built in 1748. A hundred years later the temple was restored by Phra Boriboonthanakorn (Pook Tan), a wealthy Chinese merchant, who married a Thai women. In the Ubosot was a Chinese style mural. Later he built a repository of Buddha images, the Vihara. Inside there was a beautiful Thai style mural telling the story of the Buddha ("Return from Tavatimsa heaven" and "Victory over Mara or demon"). He also invited a Buddha statue from Sukhothai province to be enshrined here. It was cast from bronze in Mara Vichai style (Victory over demon style). Over the head of the Buddha there is a great serpent with seven heads. It gave the temple the name: In Thai "nak" means the great serpent and "Prok" means to cover.
Wat Mai Yai Nui (วัดใหม่ยายนุ้ย)
Both pictures by www.thaimtb.com
Wat Nang Ratcha Worawiharn (วัดหนังราชวรวิหาร) is an ancient monastery built during the Ayutthaya period. It was later abandoned. Somdet Phrasrisulalai, mother of King Rama III (1824-1851), renovated the temple with the exception of a few objects such as the principal Buddha image in the Ubosot (Ordination Hall), the Buddha image in the Wiharn and the bell. The Ubosot, constructed with bricks and lime cement, has a three-tiered roof. Inside the building there are paintings on the upper wall of Falling Flowers. The principal Buddha image was made in the style of Sukhothai art in the Subduing Mara (Satan) Mudra or pose. In addition, the image of the revered monk Luang Pu Thao is kept here.
The Chedi
All three pictures by Botuno8. See more
Wat Nangnong Worawiharn (วัดนางนองวรวิหาร). This temple is said to have been built in the Ayutthaya period during the reign of King Srisanpetch VIII. The Ubosot and the Chedi date from the reign of King Rama III. The exterior door panels are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the interiors painted with gilded lacquer. Murals depict stories and characters from Chinese literature and pictures of the Chinese holy men Hok, Lok and Siew. In the Wihan the pediments are decorated with stucco dragons.
Picture by Mattana
Picture by Mattana
Picture by jazzsk117
See more pictures by kai1981
Wat Ratcha Orosaram (วัดราชโอรสาราม ราชวรวิหาร ). Built in the Ayutthaya-period (with the name Wat Chom Thong), later King Rama II gave the temple the name Wat Ratcha Orot (temple of the son of the King). The temple has been renovated in the style of Silpa Phra Ratcha Niyom (ศิลปะพระราชนิยม), a mix of Chinese and Thai elements. The roof ot the Ubosot is covered in green and orange, the place below the gable is decorated with Chinese stucco. The Phra Rabieng, the gallery around the Viharn, has round doors (Chinese moon) to the court and theare are 32 Chedis around the Viharn. The doors of the Viharn are decorated in gilden laquer. Inside is a big Reclining Buddha. This temple is unique, because it was the first temple, that had been built without Chofa (hornlike final on the roof ridge), Bai Raka (toothlike ridge on the sloping edges of a gable) and Hang Hong (small finials jutting out from the two corners of the gable). Read more here and also there.
From the Khlong, picture by Hdamm
Look through the gate, picture by Mattana
Under the gable of the Ubosot. Picture by Hdamm
The court with the 32 Chedis in front of the Viharn, picture by Hdamm
Picture by Mattana
The gate, picture by Mattana.
The Reclining Buddha, picture by Hdamm
Picture by Taiger808
See more pictures of the Ubosot.
Wat Bang Phratoon Nok (วัดบางประทุนนอก):
Wat Sai (วัดไทร): This Mahanikai temple was built in the Ayutthaya period. Crafted red sandstone Buddha images in Meditation and Lord Buddha postures, a decorated Buddha image in the Buddha image hall and one crafted red sandstone block located at the east of the temple as a boundary marker documentate it. and restored during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V.
The wooden house stands on pillars. In one of the rooms you discover a Chinese-style`wooden bed with carved flower motifs patterned with glass, and a painting of a Chinese lady. On the door panels are pictures of the guardian deity, and on the outside wall is a gilded lacquer painting of the traditional kanok or flame-like motif.
A tower stands on a lotus-shaped base, and the finial of the bell is in the form of a lotus bud. At the edge of the Khlong you find a wooden pavilion, covered by gold leaf. It was believed to be a resting place for the Tiger King (Sanphet VIII) during his boat trips. Each window frame of the palace is built with traditional Thai architecture called Taan Sigha. The elevated window frames give an illusion that they are floating on the wall. The pavilion’s staircase is made of bricks. Each corner of its Thai-style roof is decorated with a fresco of a lion. The temple was restored during the reign of Rama IV, and again during the reign of Rama V by Chinese artisans.
Read more about the wooden treasures in Bangkok. Not longer a reason to came here is the Wat Sai Floating Market, it has delevopped into some boats selling souvenirs to tourists.
Picture by Wikimapia.org
Picture by Kimsagus
Picture by Kimsagus
Discover more in Bangkok:
Your Guide to Bangkok
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