Royal Tombs of Wat Rajabophit Sathitmahasimaram

King Rama V commissioned Prince Bhuthares Thamrongsak to contruct the Royal Tombs for the royal family in the western area of the temple. Yet, before all the tombs were finished, he passed away in 1897. Thus, Prince Nilawan continued this work until finished.

1.Sunantanusaowari is an open building with a roof topped with a bell-shaped Chedi finial, decorated with golden mosaics. It is the tomb of Sunantan Kumarirattana, Queen Consort of King Rama V and Princess Karnaponpetcharatna Sopangkatassaneeyaluk.

2.Rangsiwattana is a four-porched building with connecting annexes to the north and south porches. The central building are topped with a bell-shaped Chedi roof finial which is decorated with golden mosaics; while the north and south porches have bell shaped Chedi roof finials painted white. It is the tomb of Srisawarintra, Queen Consort of King Rama V and her royal house.

3.Saowapapraditsathan is similar to Rangsiwattana, that is, it is a four-porched building with connecting annexes to the north and south porches. The central building has a bell-shaped Chedi roof decorated with golden mosaics; while the north and south porches have bell shaped Chedi roof finials painted white. It is the tomb of Sripatcharintra, Queen Consort of King Rama V and her royal house.

King Rama V ordered to contruct Royal Tombs for Royal family because he wanted every family member to stay together even after death. The style of the architecture is remarkable. There are various types of architecture such as Chedi, Prang(Corn-like Chedi), Vihāra, and a typical style of building that shows Thai traditional art and also strong influence from neighbouring arts and Eropean art. The variation of art style shown at the Royal Tombs could illustrate variety of concepts and forms of Thai art objects in the time of social and cultural change during the reign of King Rama V. The significance buildings in the Royal Tombs are the four golden Chedi, aligning along a north-south axis, namely SunantanusaowariI, Rangsiwattana, Saowapapraditsathan, and Sukhumalnaruemit which were dedicated to the four consorts of King Rama V.

At first, the Royal Tombs covered an approximate area of 3,200 sq. m. After the Siamese Revolution, the regent and Bangkok city had cut some area of the Royal Tombs to construct Asadang road; so the Royal Tombs cover only 2,000 sq. m.

ตำนานสุสานหลวงและพรรณไม้ในสุสานหลวงวัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมาราม.

กรุงเทพฯ : วัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมาราม, 2551.