Wat Rakhang, Buddhist temple in Siri Rat district, Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Rakhang is a Buddhist temple in the Siri Rat district of Bangkok, standing along the Chao Phraya riverbank. The compound includes an ordination hall with mural paintings, a bell tower, and several residential structures for the monastic community.
The temple began as Wat Bang Wa Yai during the Ayutthaya period before King Taksin elevated it to royal status between 1767 and 1782. King Rama I later moved the original bell to Wat Phra Kaeo and furnished the site with five new bells.
The temple's name means "bell temple", a reference visitors can still hear when residents and monks ring the instruments throughout the day.
Visitors reach the temple by cross-river ferry from Tha Chang pier or by Chao Phraya Express boat to Prannock pier, then follow signs through local markets. The compound opens during daylight hours, and appropriate clothing covering shoulders and knees is required when entering buildings.
A monk artist painted the ordination hall murals during King Rama VI's reign, depicting scenes from Buddha's life and royal barges. These paintings also show daily life in ancient cities, which visitors can discover inside the interior rooms.
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