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Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Bangkok

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Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

See all things to do
See all things to do
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara
4.5
460
#18 of 746 things to do in Bangkok
Religious Sites
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1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Phra Nakhon
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,521 within 3 miles
Lamphu Tree Thai Restaurant & Vegetarian Served
218
0.2 mi$ • Asian • Thai • Healthy
Konnichipan
305
0.2 mi$ • Bakeries • French • Cafe
Jok Pochana
549
0.2 mi$ • Seafood • Asian • Thai
Mango Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant and Arts Gallery
617
511 ft$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Fusion
Susie Q Bar Bangkok
773
0.2 mi$ • American • Bar • Barbecue
May Kaidee Tanao - Vegetarian Restaurant
357
0.2 mi$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly
Ethos Vegetarian Restaurant
801
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • International • Thai • Healthy
Buddy Beer Wine Bar and Grill
1,048
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • European • Asian
Max's Magical Thai Food
572
0.2 mi$ • Seafood • Asian • Thai
Juntun
205
0.2 mi$ • Brew Pub • Bar • Asian
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Attractions
543 within 6 miles
Nitasrattanakosin
7
223 ftArt Museums • History Museums
Chaopho Khao Tok - Chaopho Pantai Norasingh Shrine
6
375 ftReligious Sites
Santichaiprakarn Park
1
358 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas
Khaosan Road
13,972
0.2 miNeighborhoods
Banglamphu
105
0.2 miNeighborhoods
Soi Rambuttri
134
0.3 miFlea & Street Markets
Songkran Festival Khao San Road
67
0.2 miCultural Events
Sueb Sampanthawong Church
2
0.2 miChurches & Cathedrals
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)
16,014
0.8 miReligious Sites
Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium (official)
107
0.6 miArenas & Stadiums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
460 reviews
Excellent
268
Very good
164
Average
26
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Rita A
Paco de Arcos, Portugal941 contributions
Peaceful temple
This Wat is a great place to calm down.
A very near distance of 900m from Khao San Road. A must visit for any visitors. Beautiful place. Get inside the Temple and sit, seeing how Thai people sit and meditate in peace and happiness.
A precious experience.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
笑文
Dubai, United Arab Emirates41 contributions
temple of the stone carving Buddha
Friends
An old temple famous for the thousand year old stone carving Buddha statue, Prabhaireebhinash. Devotees come here to get blessing of victory over mighty foe. The golden pagoda house sacred Buddha relics which will be accessible only during special occasions.
Written February 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rex
Bangkok, Thailand19 contributions
Temple dedicated to King Rama IX
Solo
This Temple is in a walking distance from Khao Sarn Road. It is not very crowded except during the religious ceremony. The ordination hall is also unique as there are two principal Buddha images in the same hall (normally one). This was also the residential temple for King Rama 4th - 10th, when they were monks.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DavidWGrant
Dallas, TX139 contributions
A great little Wat for reasons you might not expect
Business
Wat Bowonniwet (or Boworniwet, as the locals spell it) is fascinating for a variety of reasons, well beyond its presence as a cool respite in an interesting neighborhood. Many site that it was where the current King Bhumibol received his training and ordination into the monk hood, or that the Supreme Patriarch lives here...fine. Others site the very nice Sukothai Buddha image inside from Phitsanulok…it is beautiful and soothing to behold, certainly. Others love the modern clean lines of the large chedi out back, and if you like modern chedis, fine. Still others point out the odd juxtaposition of the Chinese style broken-pottery roof top over one of its structures, and that’s interesting too, I suppose. These are reason enough to go.

I found three attractions to the place on top of those. First, it was the first time I saw, examined and touched one of the machines for which King Bhumibol holds a patent: the propane-powered canal/pond aerating machine. (His other patent concerns a cloud-seeding process.) There, in the small Koy channel that runs around one of the temple structures, is a small steel aerating machine, ingenious in its simplicity and apparent effectiveness. Wat Boworniwet is one of the few places where such channels are sufficiently oxygenated for the Koy to thrive. Second, there is hand-carved plaster of such strength and thickness that it is actually part of the support structure for a colonnade/walkway outside the Wiharn building. I was able to watch the carving process (done entirely with mallets, chisels and Surform-style formers for a twelve-foot section of supporting plaster!) and able to see it lifted into place the next day. It is molded offsite, and all carving is done onsite. Amazing filigree in a true support structure! Third, was the active life in this Wat. Much like an active Catholic Parish church from the 1960s, Wat Boworniwet has a strong local following that makes it uplifting at all times of day. Donations are taken up as necessary from locals via the placement of long steel wires to which are affixed Baht bills, into blocks of Styrofoam in large vases out front. No one steals the money, and in the end, the vases appear to be filled with Baht-bill flowers! You will feel part of a community there, even if you are not interested in architectural design or engineering. Go!
Written November 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BradJill
Hong Kong, China148,378 contributions
Wat Bowonniwet - Several Thai kings resided at this temple during their monkhood
Couples
We visited Wat Bowonniwetwiharn (free entry) during a recent trip to Bangkok and very much enjoyed this particular temple.

This first grade Royal Temple was built during the reign of King Rama III between 1824 and 1832 and is historically important for being the location where several Thai kings resided during their monkhood years, including King Rama IV, King Rama VII and King Rama IX.

One of the things we liked about Wat Bowonniwet was the Wiharn room which features an ancient Buddha statue (circa 1350), nice wall murals, window carvings and general decor. We also liked the statues and figures found throughout the temple grounds.

There is a large golden chedi that you can walk around as well as ceremonial halls built with a blend of Thai and European architectural styles. These are attractive and unique buildings to see, enter and take pictures of.

Overall, we found Wat Bowonniwet to be a decorative and attractive temple to visit, one that we would happily visit again during future trips to the city.

You can conveniently visit from Khao San Road area and comfortably see most of the temple grounds in 30-45 minutes, making this nice attraction to see for those staying in the area.
Written May 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gunma
Turin, Italy170 contributions
Should not missed
Wat Bowon is one great temple under royal patronage. At present the funeral for the head abbot is going on. BEWARE TOURIST: Proper dress require, inappropriate dress ie short, tank top may not enter the temple complex. I didn't see any facility to lend a dress like royal palace or Wat Phra Keaw. Before go there dress properly. No entrance fee.
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bell h
Washington DC, DC7 contributions
Nice building!
If you are interested in architecture, you should visit this place! you will experience something different Thai culture and Asain in general!
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Stravaig
Inverness, UK626 contributions
Beautiful and quiet
A very beautiful and quiet temple. When we visited there was only one other person in the whole of the grounds that we seen. Worth a visit to escape the crowds.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ธิติ ต
40 contributions
Jewel of Bangkok
Family
We go to visit this temple regularly with my family, especially on the important days when people walk with lighted candle around Phra Ubosatha (Ordination Hall). This royal temple is very important for Bangkok. It houses two (of three) most important and most beautiful bronze Buddha Images made during the Sukhothai Period, Phra Buddha Chinnasi and Phra Sri Sasada. The other image is Phra Buddha Chinnarat is now housed in Phitsanulok Province.
Written July 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tawi.t
Bangkok, Thailand1 contribution
Wat pavaranivesh Vihara
Friends
Wat Pavaranivesh Vihara Rajavaravihara (Wat Bowon Niwet Wihan Ratchaworawihan,  is a major Buddhisttemple (wat) in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. Being the residence of Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana; the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, it is the final resting place of two former kings of Chakri Dynasty; King Vajiravudh Rama VI and King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX.

The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikayaorder of Thai Theravada Buddhism, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phuttha Chinnasi (พระพุทธชินสีห์), a statue of the Buddha which dates to around 1357. Bowonniwet has been a major temple of patronage for the ruling Chakri dynasty. It is where many royal princes and kings studied and served their monkhood, including King Bhumibol and his son, the present king Vajiralongkorn.

Architecture

The golden chedi at the wat's shrine carries the relics and ashes of Thai royals. The two viharas are closed to public. The T-shaped bot holds a magnificent Sukhothai-period Buddha, cast in 1257 CE to celebrate freedom from the Khmerชs.
The murals on the bot's interior walls were traditionally light and limited in their subject matter and style. They were painted to appear three-dimensional.Monk artist Khrua In Khongintroduced Western style in the murals depicting Buddhist subjects.

Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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