Wat Niwet Thammaprawat

Wat Niwet Thammaprawat Ratchaworawihan (Thai: วัดนิเวศธรรมประวัติราชวรวิหาร) is a Buddhist temple (wat) of the Dhammayut Order, located within the grounds of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace in Thailand's Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Founded in 1878, it is remarkable among Thai Buddhist temples in that its architecture mimics that of a European church, being built in the Gothic Revival style.

Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
วัดนิเวศธรรมประวัติ
Religion
AffiliationBuddhist
SectDhammayut
Location
LocationMu 12, Ban Len Subdistrict, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand
Geographic coordinates14°13′53″N 100°34′34″E
Architecture
Architect(s)Joachim Grassi
StyleGothic Revival
FounderKing Chulalongkorn
Groundbreaking1876
Completed1878

History

The construction of Wat Niwet Thammaprawat was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1876, to serve as the royal temple for the newly expanded Bang Pa-In Palace. The temple was designed by Joachim Grassi, one of the first Italian architects employed under the king's government. Many public buildings were built in the Western style during Chulalongkorn's reign, a trend reflecting the modernisation of Siam (as Thailand was then known) at the time. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat was built in Gothic Revival style, with stained glass windows and a Gothic altar. Its appearance resembles that of a Christian church, with the temple's main Buddha image in place of a Cross. Construction was completed in 1878.[1]

Status and location

Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is a royal temple, first-class, of the ratchaworawihan type, and is one of the sixteen temples which receive annual royal kathina offerings. It falls under the Dhammayut Order of Thai Theravada Buddhism.[2] It is a registered historic monument, and received the ASA Architectural Conservation Award in 1989.

The temple is located on an island of the Chao Phraya River, next to Bang Pa-in Royal Palace, in Ban Len Subdistrict, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. It is nowadays accessible by a cable car from the palace.[3]

See also

References
  1. Maneenetra, Piti (31 January 2015). "The signification approach of decorative contents on Western buildings in Siamese Ornament and Decorative art revolution; A.D.1876-1896". Veridian E-Journal. Silpakorn University. 8 (4): 1–22. ISSN 1906-3431.
  2. อนันต์รัตนสุข, อนงค์ (20 September 2012). "องค์ความรู้เรื่องประวัติวัดนิเวศธรรมประวัติราชวรวิหาร" (pdf) (in Thai). Ayutthaya Provincial Cultural Office. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  3. "วัดนิเวศธรรมประวัติ ราชวรวิหาร จ.พระนครศรีอยุธยา". Dhammathai.org. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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