Wat Saket
Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan | |
---|---|
วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร (วัดสระเกศ) | |
Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100 | |
Country | Thailand |
Geographic coordinates | 13°45′14″N 100°30′30″E / 13.75389°N 100.50833°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Thai Architecture |
Completed | Unknown (believed to be Ayutthaya period;[1] renovated many times during the Rattanakosin period) |
Website | |
www |
Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan (Thai: วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร), usually shortened to Wat Saket, is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand.
The temple dates back to the
Phu Khao Thong
Phu Khao Thong (“Golden Mountain”, ภูเขาทอง) is a steep artificial hill inside the Wat Saket compound.
Rama I's grandson, King Rama III (1788–1851), decided to build a chedi of huge dimensions inside Wat Saket, but the chedi collapsed during construction because the soft soil of Bangkok could not support the weight. Over the next few decades, the abandoned mud-and-brick structure acquired the shape of a natural hill and was overgrown with weeds.[3] The locals called it the phu khao (ภูเขา, 'mountain'), as if it was a natural feature.[4] During that time, it also functioned as a lookout tower for soldiers concerned about the arrival of enemy armies.
During the reign of King
An annual festival is held at Wat Saket every November, featuring a
At the same time, a great
Phu Khao Thong is now a popular Bangkok tourist attraction and has become a symbol of the city.
Vultures of Wat Saket
In the early
In 1820, during the reign of King
The vultures became a grim image and reminder of the deaths, and Raeng Wat Saket (แร้งวัดสระเกศ, 'vultures of Wat Saket') has become a common saying, often paired with Pret Wat Suthat (เปรตวัดสุทัศน์, 'preta of Wat Suthat', probably a reference to legends surrounding the wall murals of that temple).[15][2][3]
Gallery
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Wat Saket and Wat Ratchanatdaram, Bangkok
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Historic photo of Wat Saket and Golden Mount during King Rama V's reign
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The Golden Mount
See also
- History of Bangkok
- Sumeru
- Mandala (Southeast Asian history)
- Wat Si Saket
References
- ^ "WAT SRAKESA". WAT360.
- ^ a b Pralongchoeng, Kilane (3 October 2017). "หมุดหมายแห่งสระเกศ" [Placemark of Saket]. Thairath (in Thai). Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ a b Datta, Rangan (27 April 2023). "Wat Saket and the Golden Mount — a stunning architectural marvel in Bangkok". The Telegraph. My Kolkata. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ Old photo (around 1900) of dilapidated prang from the collection of Cornell University Library (last access 2009-09-24).
- ISBN 978-974-16-8598-1.
- ISBN 9780231527545.
- ^ Wikimapia: Temple of the Golden Mount or Phu Khao Thong (ภูเขาทอง) -Bangkok (Krungthep)
- ^ Norwich 2001, p. 266
- ^ Emmons 2008, p. 64
- ASTV Manager(in Thai). 7 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ krashkraft (9 November 2008). "sao noi tok nam". Flickr.
- ^ Hoffman, Carrie (6 November 2017). "Loi Krathong Festival at The Golden Mount". Yimyambkk. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- Khao Sod. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ Atthakor, Ploenpote (18 January 2018). "Troops at Mahakan rattle locals". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- TPBS(in Thai). 18 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
Sources
- Norwich, John Julius (2001), Great architecture of the world, USA: Da Capo Press Inc., ISBN 0-306-81042-5
External links
- A photograph of the chedi under construction c. 1865 by John Thompson[1][2]
13°45′14″N 100°30′30″E / 13.75389°N 100.50833°E
- ISBN 9786167339511.
- ^ Citation error. See inline comment how to fix. [verification needed]