| WAT BOROM PHUTTHARAM (วัดบรมพุทธาราม) |
Wat Borom Phuttharam (also Borommaphuttharam) or the "Monastery of the Grand
Buddha" is a restored ruin from the Late Ayutthaya period. The site consists of an
ordination hall (ubosot), sermon hall (vihara) and two main chedis. The ordination hall is
40 meter long and 11 meter wide, divided into 3 sections. There are 2 entrances: one in
the northeast and one in the southwest. The ubosot houses a sandstone Buddha image in
meditation posture. The temple was also known as Wat Krabuang Khluab, the
"glaze-tiled temple" referring to the the yellow glazed-tile roof of the ordination hall.
Pieces of these tiles can still be found in and around Khlong Chakrai Noi in its vicinity.
King Phetracha (r.1688-1703 - Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty) had it constructed in 1689 in
area of his home town, named Patong District. It took 2 years to complete its
construction. Following the Fine Arts Department it was dedicated to a community of
dwelling-monks, especially several high-ranking priests.
King Borommakot (r.1733-1758) gave the order to restore this temple completely.
Three new doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl were added. The doors bear an inscription
describing their commissioning for Wat Borommaphuttharam in 1751. The doors were
presumably removed after the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. One pair of the doors
was installed in 1939 at the scripture library (Hor Phra Monthien Dharma) from Wat Pra
Kaeo or the Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha; another pair of doors was set up
at Wat Benjamabophit Dusitharam, both in Bangkok. The third and last set of doors was
cut down to remove the damaged parts, made into a cabinet and is exhibited in the
Bangkok's National Museum.
The ruin is located on the city island on the Rajaphat Institute premises, south of Rojana
Rd and adjacent to former Khlong Chakrai Noi.
Buddha" is a restored ruin from the Late Ayutthaya period. The site consists of an
ordination hall (ubosot), sermon hall (vihara) and two main chedis. The ordination hall is
40 meter long and 11 meter wide, divided into 3 sections. There are 2 entrances: one in
the northeast and one in the southwest. The ubosot houses a sandstone Buddha image in
meditation posture. The temple was also known as Wat Krabuang Khluab, the
"glaze-tiled temple" referring to the the yellow glazed-tile roof of the ordination hall.
Pieces of these tiles can still be found in and around Khlong Chakrai Noi in its vicinity.
King Phetracha (r.1688-1703 - Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty) had it constructed in 1689 in
area of his home town, named Patong District. It took 2 years to complete its
construction. Following the Fine Arts Department it was dedicated to a community of
dwelling-monks, especially several high-ranking priests.
King Borommakot (r.1733-1758) gave the order to restore this temple completely.
Three new doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl were added. The doors bear an inscription
describing their commissioning for Wat Borommaphuttharam in 1751. The doors were
presumably removed after the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. One pair of the doors
was installed in 1939 at the scripture library (Hor Phra Monthien Dharma) from Wat Pra
Kaeo or the Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha; another pair of doors was set up
at Wat Benjamabophit Dusitharam, both in Bangkok. The third and last set of doors was
cut down to remove the damaged parts, made into a cabinet and is exhibited in the
Bangkok's National Museum.
The ruin is located on the city island on the Rajaphat Institute premises, south of Rojana
Rd and adjacent to former Khlong Chakrai Noi.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - October 2009 |
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| (View of the ordination hall) |
| (Main Buddha image in the ordination hall) |
| (View of the ordination hall) |
| (View from Khlong Chakrai Noi) |
| (View from the north) |
| (Click thumnnail for an aerial view) |
| (Mother-of-pearl inlaid library found at Wat Borom Phuttharam on exposition at the Chao Sam Phraya Museum) |
| (Buddha heads excavated at the site of Wat Borom Phuttharam and displayed at the vihara of Wat Mongkhol Bophit) |