Wat Makut
Royal temple in Bangkok’s historical Rattanakosin area
Bangkok
The Wat Makut is a second class Royal temple located on the edge of Bangkok’s historical center Rattanakosin.
Founded by King Mongkut
The temple, its full name being Wat Makut Kasattriyaram Ratchaworawiharn is named after its founder, King Mongkut (Rama IV), who reigned from 1851 until 1868. Mongkut, who spent 27 years as a Buddhist monk before being crowned King, founded the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, an order of Theravada Buddhism.
The temple was built next to the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem that had been dug out to serve as a moat protecting the old center of town, called Rattanakosin. Construction of the Wat Makut was finished in 1868.
Structures of the Wat Makut
The Wat Makut’s grounds are surrounded by a wall with a large elaborate entrance gate. Its main structures are a viharn (assembly hall), an ubosot (ordination hall) and a large chedi.
Two sets of sema stones around the ubosot
An unusual feature of the Wat Makut is its two sets of sema stones. The ubosot or ordination hall of a Buddhist temple is surrounded by eight sema stones, boundary stones that mark the building’s sacred area.
Apart from this set of boundary stones called Khantha Sema, the Wat Makut possesses a second set of sema stones called Maha Sema (Great Sema), found on the wall surrounding the temple.
Viharn and ubosot
The window panels and doors of the viharn and the ubosot are intricately decorated in golden colors with symbols of Royalty and the mythological three headed elephant Erawan.
Surrounding both the viharn and the ubosot is a gallery, on which large circular pillars support the roof. The walls of the ubosot, the buildings where monks are ordained, are decorated with 19th century murals.
Principal Buddha image
The viharn, a large building with a multi tiered roof, enshrines the Wat Makut’s principal Buddha image. To the back of the viharn is a very elaborate butsabok, a kind of Buddha image throne, that enshrines the bronze image in the meditation posture. Seated in front of the butsabok are the images of two followers in admiration.
Restoration
When in the early 21st century the temple had fallen in a bad state of disrepair, the Crown Property Bureau and the Thai Fine Arts Department decided to restore the temple with the intent to preserve as much of the original as possible.
The Wat Makut was restored over a period of 6 years. The works were completed in 2007 in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday celebration. The restoration project was awarded with the Architectural Conservation Award of the Asa Association of Siamese Architects.
Location
The temple is located on Krung Kasem road just South of Khlong Phadung Kasem canal, East of Prachathipatai road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.
How to get to the Wat Makut
Get there by taxi, river boat or tuk tuk.
There is no BTS Sky Train station nearby.
Taxi
The easiest and most comfortable way to get there is by metered taxi. The ride from the Grand Palace area should cost between 75 and 150 Baht depending on traffic.
River boat and tuk tuk
The nearest boat pier on the Chao Phraya river is Thewes pier, about one kilometer from the temple. Take a boat on the orange, yellow or green line of the Chao Phraya River Express boat and get off at Thewes pier. From there, either take a walk or flag down a tuk tuk.
Opening hours
The temple opens daily from 6 am until 6 pm.
Entrance fee
Admission is free.
Nearby attractions
- Wat Intharawihan standing Buddha
- Wat Benchamabophit marble temple
- Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
- Vimanmek Royal teak mansion
- Dusit palace