Wat benchamabophit

Wat benchamabophit The Marble Temple It is constructed from Italian carrara marble and hence the name. It is a lovely building, cool and inviting. Full of little details and treasures that delight the eye and invite you to linger over them. This temple was commissioned in 1899 by King Rama V and the literal translation of the temple’s name is the palace of the fifth King. It is a major tourist attraction of Bangkok.

The temple is full of glorious artifacts. A 2.5 ton Buddha image carved in bronze in the sukothai style is housed in the ordination hall and looking at it fills you with wonder. The unusual blue lighting behind the Buddha transforms it into a striking display. It is named Phra Buddhajinaraja after the original located in the Wat Mahathat. The ashes of the King Chulalongkorn are buried beneath the statue. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab collected numerous Buddha statues for his king. These are displayed in the gallery surrounding the ordination hall and total at 52. It is one of the most beautiful architectural sites of Thailand. It was designed by H.R.H Prince Naris who was half brother to the King and a renowned artist. The architecture of the building is distinctly European, Neo-classical style. Its symmetry and sense of proportion soothe the eye. It was submitted to UNESCO in 2005 for consideration as a World Heritage Site.
The décor and plasterwork of the building especially around the windows is highly detailed. There are beautifully decorated door panels, images of Buddha are engraved into the tiles on the roof of the cloister. Two beautifully carved marble lions flank the entrance to the ordination hall. The Saphannam Chao Khun Chom Marda Samlee is a lovely three-gabled waterside pavilion. The canal is crossed by red bridges and has other waterside pavilions as well. It is the most peaceful spot in the temple along with being the loveliest. It is perfect for meditation.
There are numerous other places within the temple which you can visit. They include the Song Phanuat Hall (residence of the abbot), the Song Dharma Hall and the Bovornvong Bell Tower.
A visit to this temple can be combined with a visit to the Vimanmek mansion which is nearby and a beautiful tourist spot.
The speediest way to reach this spot is by skytrain to Phayathai station and then a taxi will transport you to the exact location.