Phra Borom Banpot

Chedi Phukhao Thong was built in the reign of King Rama III with a prang-typed stupa. The design was changed into a bell-shaped stupa in the reign of King Rama IV and the project completed in the reign of King Rama V.

The original framework was made anew in 1950 AD by using the ferroconcrete instead of former materials. Because it was an important landmark, Japanese Imperial Army then installed the weapon near the stupa, which caused the stupa severe damage during the WWII.

Chedi Phukhao Thong is a golden bell-shaped stupa on the high mound which is surrounded by concrete wall. Two staircases are leading to the open pavilion and there are other two staircases leading to the upper veranda. The character of the stupa is King Rama IV bell-shaped type, which shares some features, such as pyramidal wire pedestals, of Ayutthaya bell-shaped stupa.

King Rama III would like to build Phra Chedi Phukhao Thong as same as Wat Phukhao Thong in Ayudhya period, which was located at the edge of the rice field where the people made a temple fair in the annual festival. The king then chose the spot of old Wat Saket and filled the earth with logs and put the laterite layers to reach the ground. The stupa then made upon the platform by bricks into a structure of prang-typed stupa. However, the platform was later sunk, which caused the pause of the project through the end of the reign.

King Rama IV ordered to reconstruct. He placed the plaque in 1864 AD and named “Borombanpot”. The continue work changed the style of the stupa to be a bell-shaped stupa that has two spiral staircases leading to the top for people climbing up and praying the buddha relics.