Wat Rajasittharam
Rajaworawihara ( Wat Rajasit)
is located close to the Charoenpart Bridge on Isaraphap road in
Thonburi. The temple dated from the Ayutthaya Period and it was
called originally Wat Phrab. King Rama I ordered the construction
of a new temple next to Wat Phrab and the two temples were combined
as one. In 1808 the temple was again renovated.
King Rama III resided at this temple
while he has a monk, and after he ascended the throne, he ordered
another renovation of the temple.
Wat Rajasittharam has several important
buildings. The Phra Tamnak Chan was constructed by King Rama II
for the future King Rama III when he was a monk. It is a small building
with two rooms, the ground floor is of bricks and mortar, while
the upper floor is of sandalwood (chan). The apex of gable ( Cho
fa, bai raka ) is beautifully decorated with mirrors. King Rama
III subsequently had the building moved next to a Chinese-style
building. The sandalwood, which had become rotten, was replaced
with other types of wood such as teng (shorea), rang (dipterocarpaceae)
and teak so that only part of the original sandalwood remains.
The Phra Ubosot was reconstructed
in the Third Reign when the temple was completely renovated. Murals
in the Phra Ubosot depict scene of a royal procession on land but
the paintings have badly deteriorated.
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