[2025 Bangkok Attraction] Travel Guide for Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan (Updated Apr)

Racha Bobbito Monastery is a royal monastery built by King Rama V in more than 20 years. The walls of the main hall are covered with ceramic tiles from China, the window frames are inlaid with ivory decorations, and crystal chandeliers hang inside. The architectural style of the entire monastery reveals the unique feeling that Rama V, who visited the Palace of Versailles, was good at innovation on the basis of absorbing Western architectural elements. The monastery perfectly integrates the culture of Thailand and Europe, and can be regarded as a masterpiece of art in Buddhist monasteries. There are four Buddha statues in the temple, each facing the cardinal point. Starting from the circular corridor under the base of the stupa, there is the main hall in the north, the main Buddha hall in the south, and two smaller Buddha halls on the east and west sides, which is an unusual layout in Thai temple architecture. The combination of Eastern and Western architectural styles permeates the entire building of Racha Bobitaw Temple. The 10 door panels and 28 window panels of the main hall are beautifully carved and inlaid with the classic Thai mother-of-pearl, which represent the five Royal Medal. The seal of the king is also engraved on the eaves, and the guards on the door are obviously European. The interior decoration is also in Italian Renaissance style, which is slightly inconsistent with the overall architectural style of the temple. The tall stupa surrounding the middle is the characteristic of this monastery.