Wat Ratchanatdaram
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Wat Ratchanatdaram
| native_name =
| image = 03-วัดราชนัดดาราม.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Loha Prasat
| map_type = Thailand Bangkok
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location =
| coordinates = {{coord|13.755616|100.503930}}
| religious_affiliation = Buddhism
| deity =
| country = Thailand
| functional_status = Active
| website =
| founded_by = King Nangklao (Rama III)
| year_completed = 2007
}}
Wat Ratchanatdaram ({{langx|th|วัดราชนัดดาราม}}, {{IPA|th|wát râːt.t͡ɕʰā.nát.dāːrāːm|pron}}) is a Buddhist temple (wat) located at the intersection between Ratchadamnoen Klang and Maha Chai Road, in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok. Meaning Temple of the Royal Niece, the temple was built to the order of King Nangklao (Rama III) for his granddaughter, Princess Somanass Waddhanawathy in 1846. It is popularly known as Loha Prasat, literally meaning the iron palace.{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=A visit to Loha Prasat in Bangkok will fill you with peace, joy and serenity |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/loha-prasat-this-iron-castle-officially-known-as-wat-ratchanatdaram-is-a-one-of-a-kind-temple-in-bangkok-thailand-that-houses-a-buddha-relic/cid/1896369 |access-date=31 August 2023 |agency=My Kolkata |issue=The Telegraph |date=6 November 2022}}{{cite web |title=Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (Loha Prasat) |url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/wat-ratchanatdaram-worawihan-loha-prasat |website=Amazing Thailand |publisher=Tourism Thailand |access-date=31 August 2023}}
Etymology
History
Although the structure was conceived in 1846 during the reign of King (Rama III) it was not completed during his reign. Several attempts were made by King Rama III's successor to complete it but it was only in 1960, under Rama IX, that construction was restarted. It was supervised by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand. In 1995 a Buddha relic was enshrined at the topmost spire of the Loha Parsat. In 2007 it was opened to public.{{cite web |title=Loha Prasat |url=https://www.thailandmagazine.com/loha-prasat/?lang=en |website=Thailand Magazine |access-date=31 August 2023}}
Architecture
Loha Prasat (โลหะปราสาท) means iron castle or iron monastery. The {{convert|36|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|sp=us}} structure is composed of seven stories divided into three levels. The bottom has 24 spires, the middle 12 and the top level has 1 spire. The top-most spire houses the Buddha relic.
A pyramid like structure created by the outer building is the widest, The next one smaller than the previous. At the ground floor there is a labyrinth supported by a great number of columns. Pictures describing the history of structure were installed in the corridors in late 2007.
The Loha Prasat at Wat Ratchanatdaram is based on an old Buddhist design and is modelled after two earlier similar structures in Shravasti, India and Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, both of which no longer exist. The Indian Loha Prasat contained 1,000 rooms with a golden spire on top. The Sri Lankan Loha Prasat had nine floors and the roof was thatched with copper. Precious stones, wood and ivory decorated the walls. This Laoha Prasat is the only one remaining.
Gallery
File:พระอุโบสถวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Phra Ubosot
File:พระวิหารวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Phra Vihara
File:ศาลาการเปรียญวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Sala Karn Parien
File:พระเสฏฐตมมุนี.jpg
File:โลหะปราสาทวัดราชนัดดาราม.jpg|Loha Prasat
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-01.jpg
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-02.jpg
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-03.jpg
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-04.jpg
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-05.jpg
File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-07.jpg
File:(2019) วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (2).jpg
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Wat Ratchanatdaram}}
- [http://www.bangkokguidebook.com/bangkok-blogs/loha-prasat---the-metal-castle.html Loha Prasat - The Metal Castle]
- [http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/local-destinations/listing/wat-ratchanadda-the-loha-prasat/2438/ Wat Ratchanadda (The Loha Prasat)]
- [http://www.thaibis.com/bangkok/attractions/wat-ratchanatdaram-worawihan Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan]
{{Tourist attractions in Bangkok}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|13|45|17|N|100|30|17|E|type:landmark_region:TH|display=title}}
Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1846