Wat Rakhang Khositaram

THAILAND, Bangkok

Rakhang means Bell and the temple is now commonly known as Wat Rakhang. The full name of the temple is Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahaviharn and it was formerly named Wat Bangwa Yai. It is located to the west of the Chao Phraya River, near the Grand Palace. The temple was built in the Ayutthaya period (circa 1350–1767). King Taksin (reigned 1767–1782) raised its status to a royal temple in 1769. During a major renovation under King Rama I (reigned 1782–1809), an ancient bell was unearthed, and it was later moved to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) in the Grand Palace. Five new bronze bells were then cast to replace the ancient bell. During the time of King Rama III (reigned 1824–1851), the temple was expanded and a new ordination hall was built, turning the old ordination hall into the main hall. It is a second class royal temple.
The principal buildings include the ordination hall, main hall, sutra repository, bell pavilion, and Khmer-style stupa. The ordination hall is a rectangular building with five sections of overlapping roofs and four-tier eaves. The roof is covered with red, orange, and green glazed tiles, forming colored rectangular borders. Wind chimes are hung from the eaves. A gilded statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, known as Buddha Smiles in Welcome, is enshrined in the ordination hall. There are statues of three disciples with their palms joined facing the Buddha. The sutra repository is a wooden building on stilts with its roof consisting of three adjoining gables. There is an extended portico in front of the main door. The layout of the bell pavilion is square with multiple corners. It has a cruciform roof, with double eaves. The roof is supported by 12 square columns. The bell pavilion has no walls and only contains the bronze bells located on the four sides as well as in the center. This bell pavilion is a special feature of this temple.