Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram

THAILAND, Ubon Ratchathani

The temple, originally named Wat Sri Thong, was built in 1855 during the time of King Rama IV (reigned 1851–1868). A new ordination hall was constructed in 1968, and King Rama IX (reigned 1946–present) and his family attended the opening ceremony. Princess Ubon Rattana renamed this temple Sri Ubon Rattanaram, and offered royal support for the temple. This temple is currently a third class royal temple.
The temple consists of an ordination hall, main hall, lecture hall, Buddhist school, and museum. The ordination hall has a square layout with multiple corners and porticos projecting from its four sides. The exterior wall is painted white, and the frames of the doors and windows are finely carved. It has a cruciform roof covered in orange glazed tiles. There is a multi-tier canopy at the center of the ridges. The ends of the ridges are decorated with garudas. Naga scales are fashioned along the bargeboards. The pediment is decorated with the relief of a stupa. Inside the ordination hall there is a sacred Buddha statue called Phra Kaew Busarakham. The Buddha is seated in half lotus position, with hands in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. Measuring 12.7 cm high, the statue is carved out of topaz, while the usnisa and necklace are made of gold. It is more than a thousand years old and is one of Thailand’s National Treasures.