Phra Ubosot Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram

The demolition work of the old temple was ordered by King Rama V with the person in charge of the project was Chaopraya Voraphongphiphat (M.R.W. Yen Israsena). The tempolary ubosot was then built, while the permanent building and the cloister was yet to be done. The plan was designed by Prince Naris, the director of the department of public works, and the construction was under Praya Rajsongkram (Korn Hongsakula). The emblems on the pediments were created by Prince Naris and Prince Voravadhna Subhakarn.

Phra ubosot is in projecting cross plan and faces the east The easterm portico is extended, while the duplicated Phra Phuttha Jinaraj is installed in the western wing. The northern and southern porticos are linked to the cloister that leads to the back of the building.

The front edge of the boundary stand concrete pillars with lotus-bud-shaped echinus, which signify “Sema”, while the back of the ubosot shows through Dharmacakra Sema on a granite-carved floor tiles. The boundary floor uses pink and gray granite tiles, while the wall is a white marble.

The eastern and western porticos have four marble pillars in circular plan. Beside the staircase of each side stand a pair of marble-carved lions, which Prince Naris designed and molded by Khun Sakolpradit, the royal artisan.

The exterior door was embossed with Dvarapala, while the interior door was painted the same figure with golden lacquer. The windows use the same technic, however, with Mara Baek. The niches were decorated by stained glass.

The roof was built in traditional Thai form with yellow corrugated tiles and Thepphanom at the eaves, which once were the roof tiles of Wat Kalayanamite that later had been coloured in China.

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram is a temple precinct within Dusit palace. Its plan and architectural style are examples of traditional Thai building which has European influence, for instance, the materials are Italian marbles, the stained glass window and the coat of arm on the pediment, which is related to the king and the state affairs.

1.The duplicated Phra Phuttha Jinaraj is installed inside phra ubosot and the wall painting displays 8 important stupas of Thailand.

2. King Rama VI ordered to store his father, King Rama V’s relics inside the pedestal of the duplicated Phra Phuttha Jinaraj.

3. The western niche outside the phra ubosot stands the bejeweled buddha image named “Phra Dharmacakra” after two Dharmacakra symbols on his palms. Inside the buddha image’s pedestal stored the relics of The Princess Grandmother Sudarattana Rajprayura.

Phra Ubosot plan can be related to the plan of Viharn Luang Wat Phra Srirattanamahathat Pitsanulok, where Phra Phuttha Jinaraj is installed.

ชลธีร์ ธรรมวรางกูร, ทรงวิทย์ แก้วศรี. ประมวลเอกสารสำคัญเนื่องในการสถาปนาวัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนาราม. กรุงเทพฯ : โรงพิมพ์มหาจุฬาลงกรราชวิทยาลัย, 2535

ประวัติวัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนาราม : ว่าด้วยการสถาปนา ก่อสร้างเพิ่มเติม ปฏิสังขรณ์ การพิเศษ และการเกี่ยวข้องต่าง ๆ. กรุงเทพฯ : อมรินทร์พริ้นติ้งแอนด์พับลิชชิ่ง, 2543