Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan

When we talk about grandpa’s gift to the grand-children, we probably think of money, toy, book, pet, music instruments. Well, Thailand King Rama III built Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, Loha Prasat, for his granddaughter, who became the first consort of King Rama IV the Great and was commonly known as Queen Sommanat Wattanawadi. It is called Loha Prasat because it means iron or metal castle or iron or metal monastery. Loha Prasat, a royal temple, is firstly conceived and built [but unfinished] in 1846 and finally completed in 2007. It is considered the first metal castle style temple in Thailand. It was constructed into a 7-storey building with 37 golden-color castle peaks, which refers to the 37 Bodhipakkhiya Dharma in Buddhism. The top of the castle on the 7th floor is where the Buddha’s relics are enshrined. The visitors can walk around the 7th floor and have 360-degree view. For any visitors to the Temple, they will all impressed by the design of the building when natural sunshine or sun light can come in from 4 sides of the building wall, and every piece of the walls does have some Buddhist study or meditation reading or phrases for reflections. It is the only remaining Buddhist temple in castle peaks style in the world, when two other similar temples in India and Sri Lanka have been damaged. The Temple can be accessed by taking Bangkok MRT to Sam Yot Station, BL 30. The entrance fee for entering the 7-story building is $20 BAHT for foreigners, while Thailand citizens are free.

A breathtaking slice of Bangkok history and architecture. Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, known as the “Temple of the Royal Niece,” was commissioned by King Rama III in 1846 to honor his granddaughter, Princess Sommanass Waddhanawathy  . Its centerpiece is the stunning Loha Prasat (“Metal Castle”), a rare multi-tiered temple adorned with 37 metal spires symbolizing the virtues toward enlightenment  . Despite its central Old Town location—at Ratchadamnoen Klang and Maha Chai Road—the temple offers a calm, almost serene atmosphere. The Loha Prasat stands 36 m tall with three tiers (24 spires at the base, 12 in the middle, and a single top spire) and houses a Buddha relic at the summit  . The structure’s design is modeled after ancient temples in Shravasti (India) and Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka), both of which no longer exist—making this one of only three such metal-palace structures worldwide  . Visiting at sunrise or late afternoon offers the best lighting and atmosphere. The outer garden plaza, opened after the adjacent cinema’s demolition, now showcases a pavilion and statue of King Rama III 📍 Intersection of Ratchadamnoen Klang & Maha Chai Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 🕘 Open daily, 9 AM–5 PM (approx.) 💡 Tip: Best visited in the early morning or just before sunset for gorgeous light and fewer crowds. #thailand #bangkok #thebestintheworld#traval#วัดราชนัดดา

This Buddhist temple set in the heart of Bangkok is a thing of beauty. Do not rush your time here, it is a place to stroll, stop, admire and contemplate life. A true work of art and a stunning example of Buddhist and Thai culture that must be visited when in Bangkok.