Wat Saket

Wat Saket or the old name was Wat Sakae was built since Ayutthaya period. It had been renovated during the reign of King Rama I and King Rama III.

Masonry, wood roof with tile, gold leaf plated glass

The chapel is in traditional Thai style. The stacked wooden roof is decorated with Krueang Lam Yong which is gable apex, small finials jutting out of the two corners of the gable, and naga. The gable is decorated with Vishnu the God on Garuda made of wood and gold plated glass. Doors and windows are in Ban Thaleang style. There are pillars around the chapel. The balcony is decorated with Chinese glazed tile. There are shelters of the marker stone surround all 8 sides and they all are decorated with colorful tiles made in China. The four sides of the chapel is surrounded by the cloisters and each side enshrines a Buddha statue.

Wat Saket was known as Wat Sakae. Its history is connected to significant incident during the critical point of Thonburi and early Rattanakosin periods. Chao Phra Ya Maha Kasatsuek and his people stoped at this temple on the way back from the battle with Cambodia. He washed his hair at the big pond of this temple and he invited the monks for Royal ceremonial bath of purification before dealing with the riot in Thonburi. He won and was crowned after that. The king had people renovate the temple and named it Wat Saket because of the incident when he washed his hair at the temple. Wat Saket had gone through a big renovation during the reign of King Rama III. Some architectures such as a chapel was designed according to the King; it was built in a traditional Thai style. The gable is decorated with Krueang Lam Yong and a picture of Vishnu the God on Garuda the mythical bird. There are solid rectangular pillars without lotus on the top. There is the shelter of the marker stone decorated colorful tiles that were ordered from China. There are well decorated pagodas around the temple. These pagodas were very popular in the reign of King Rama III.

สุริยา รัตนกุล,คุณหญิง. พระอารามหลวงในกรุงเทพมหานคร.นครปฐม : มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล, 2550-2552.