🌿🌿 Bangkok's Marble Temple 🌿🌿

🏛️ The Marble Temple, located on Sri Ayutthaya Road in the north of Bangkok, also known as "Wat Benchamabophit," is situated between the Grand Palace and the National Assembly building. This Buddhist temple is entirely constructed from marble and adorned with Chinese glazed tiles on the roof. 📜 Established during the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350-1767), it was renovated by King Rama II in the early 19th century. In 1899, King Rama V added long corridors, a scripture repository, and a Buddhist college. The marble used was transported from Carrara, Italy, and the architecture is rich with Western influences. The temple houses 50 Buddha statues from various periods in Thai history, blending Chinese and Indian Buddhist artistic styles, making it a prime example of 19th-century Buddhist sculpture. 🦁 At the main hall's entrance, stone lions guard the doors, and inside, there is a 3-meter-tall golden Buddha statue of Shakyamuni. The temple's windows mimic the architectural style of Western European churches, with stained glass forming Thai-style lattice patterns. The Phra Buddha Chinarat statue within the main hall is a replica of the famous one from Phitsanulok, Thailand. 🌳 Behind the main hall lies a large courtyard paved with marble, surrounded by corridors on three sides. The cloisters display 51 Buddha statues from different eras in Thai history, each vividly detailed and uniquely postured, embodying the artistic styles of Chinese and Indian Buddhism, and serving as a model of Thai Buddhism from the 19th century. In the rear of the temple, there are statues from the Thawaravadi period, as well as Chinese or Japanese Buddha statues. The temple also features many ornate pavilions. Across the way, there's a marble bell tower and Bodhi trees. 🌞 The temple's white marble columns and golden roofs reflect beautifully in the sunlight, exuding nobility and beauty. The tranquil and clean gardens leave a lasting impression on visitors. The best time to visit the Marble Temple is in the morning when monks chant within the temple. 🎟️ Admission: 50 Baht #ThailandBucketList #ThailandAttractions #ThaiTemples #SummerInThailandNeverEnds #TempleBlessings #BangkokThailand