Wat Ratcha-orasaram

Welcome, observant travelers, to a temple that fundamentally shattered the architectural rules of 19th-century Siam: Wat Ratcha-orasaram. Located in the Chom Thong district, alongside the historic Khlong Dan canal, this temple is…

Our tour begins exactly where royal processions would have arrived centuries ago: the Sala Tha Nam, or Riverfront Pavilion, resting on the edge of the Khlong Dan canal. In the era before paved roads, the waterways were the…

As we proceed inland toward the main temple enclosure, we approach the monumental entrance gates. In almost every other royal Thai temple, the boundary walls would be guarded by fierce 'Singha'—the mythical Thai lions. …

We now stand before the Phra Ubosot, the main ordination hall, the absolute zenith of King Rama III’s 'Nok Yang' or outside-the-style architecture. Look at the roofline. …

Turning our attention away from the main hall, we find another astonishing departure from Thai architectural norms. In a traditional temple, the four corners of the sacred boundary are usually marked by graceful, bell-shaped Thai…

As we walk along the outer galleries surrounding the complex, we encounter a feature that highlights the profound benevolence and civic-mindedness of King Rama III. Embedded into the low walls along the corridors are a series of…

As our exploration of Wat Ratcha-orasaram concludes, we must take a final measure of the monarch who willed this extraordinary place into existence. King Rama III was a ruler defined by his pragmatism, his immense wealth…