Wat Chalerm Phra Kiat

Built by King Nangklao to commemorate the honor of Chao Chom Manda Riam, his mother and maternal grandparents. The construction completed in the reign of King Mongkut, his successor.

Brick and mortar

The Ubosot and the Vihara both are on the rectangular bases while the walls are made of brick and mortar. The Ubosot is larger than the Vihara, surrounded by Semas in 8 directions. Both buildings are of Chinese style of architecture which was the King’s favorite style of art. The architecture style of both buildings are similar to each other with squared Sao Palai (Thai style column)decorated with lotus on the top of the pillars surrounded the building without Kan Tuay (corbel), the roof is stacked up porcelains while the flat triangular Na Ban (tympanum) reflected the Chinese influence with the flowers and leaves decoration. The frame of Na Ban is decorated with Naga’s heads.

King Nangklao (Rama III) had ordered the Royal temple built on the area, formerly belonged to his mother, Chao Chom Manda Riam (Princess Sri Sulalai) and his maternal grandparents to commemorate their honors. The area where the temple locates was the location of the Ayutthaya period fortress called “Pom Tubtim” (Tub Tim Fort). The fortress was used to oversee the river. The construction of temple was supervised by Chao Phraya Phra Klang (Dis Bunnag), The Supreme Chancellor of Defence. The building was built using brick-and-mortar in the fortress style with Semas on tops similar to the wall and forts surrounding the Grand Palace. King Nangklao named the temple “Wat Chalerm Phra Kiat” (The Temple of Honor). The artforms of the buildings and decorations in the temple are of Chinese styles, the King’s favorite art style except the Principle Chedi which is of the Bell-Shaped after the preference of King Mongkut (Rama IV) whom continued and finished the construction of the temple after his half-brother.

ลำดวน สุขพันธุ์ (เรียบเรียง).ประวัติวัดเฉลิมพระเกียรติวรวิหาร. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2521.

ปิยมาศ สุขพลับพลา.“การศึกษาเปรียบเทียบสถาปัตยกรรมพระอารามหลวงรัชสมัยพระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว : กรณีศึกษาวัดเทพธิดารามวรวิหาร วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร วัดเฉลิมพระเกียรติวรวิหาร” (วิทยานิพนธ์ศิลปศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต สาขาประวัติศาสตร์สถาปัตยกรรม บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2546).