Th 8 - Temple for Princess

"A good person can make another person good; it means that goodness will elicit goodness in the society; other persons will also be good."
- King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Wat Ratchanaddaram
วัดราชนัดดาราม
View from Loha Prasat

From left : Infront the Loha Prasat; model of Loha Prasat based on the first structure built by female devotee of Visakha.

Wat Ratchanaddaram or literally means 'Royal Niece' located at the Ratchadamnoen Klang and Mahachak Roads, in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok. I went to this temple with tuk-tuk from Wat Pho. Need to change route as a local told me that the Grand Palace was closed in view of the death of the King Rama IX's sister. Initially I didn't know much about this temple but after being told that this is one of the temple that shouldn't missed - I proceed. And futhermore it's free!

Loha Prasat or Iron Monastery

This temple built on 1846 by King Rama III. It is best known for the Loha Prasat means 'Iron Monastery' and the name refers to the 37 metal spires on the pagoda. These 37 spires represent the 37 virtues that lead to enlightenment.

Metal Spires of the pagoda

Loha Prasat it is presently the only metal-based Buddhist construction left in the world, making it a viable candidate for Unesco World Heritage Site status in 1995. It derived its name from the first structure of this kind built in India by a female devotee of Visakha, There were only 3 temples built based on the structure - each in India (the original), Sri Lanka (built by King Dutthagamini of Anurajapura in 161 BC) and in Thailand. However the first two have become ruined.

One of UNESCO's World Heritage List candidate