The hundreds of life size Buddha Statues arranged in rows at  the smammer chapel around the main Viharn of Wat Suthat

There are smaller chapels at four corners built around the Viharn with each hosting various popular forms and postures of Buddha image such as in reclining from, holding an alms bowl etc.. Surrounding the main building are 28 multi levels Pagodas which looks more like Chinese designed style than Thai. There are actually many Chinese merchants and shops around Wat Suthat and I would possible assume the Chinese community here had cast their influences in the secondary decor around the temple.

Overall, the Thai Royalties had played a big role in the realization of this beautiful Buddhist Temple of Wat Suthat
Thepwararam. As King Rama I (King Phutthayotfa Chulalok) was the one who pioneered the idea. King Rama II continued with the project but he was passed away before it was completed, leaving traces of his attentive attitude to complete the project . It was during the reign of King Rama III (King Nangklao) that the temple was finally completed. He was also the one who commanded the casting of another Buddha Statue Phra Buddha Trilokachet image now residing at the Phra Ubosot, the Ordination Hall. Incidentally, King Rama IV (King Monkut) was the King who officially given the name of Phra Buddha Trilokachet. It was learnt that the extension and completion of other segments in this whole temple were done during the King Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) reign.

Buddhist mentor of Thai King RAMA VIII, Soomdej PAE of Wat Suthat
Further, there is a Royal Monument of King Rama VII at the north west section. King Rama VIII actually had his monkhood at this temple and Abbot then, Somdej Phra Ariyawongsakotayarn Sakolmaha Sangkhaparinayok (Pae Tissathewo) was his Buddhist lecturer. After his death, the present Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej kept his brother's ashes of remain under the basement of the Phra Sri Sakayamuni and built a monument outside the main viharn in remembrance of him.


The monument of King Rama VIII is a life size standing bronze cast figure, fully dressed up as Commander in Chief. On the 9th of June each year, there are merit making. So, all these close association between the royal families and Wat Suthat was why sometimes it was termed as "Phra Vihara Luang" which means The Royal Temple. Technically, the entire process in the construction of Wat Suthat was stretched from a few generations of Kings of Thailand, simply based on this fact alone - ain't this a worthy place for a visit ?

The Giant Swing outside the main entrance to Wat Suthat Delicate details of wood crafting at the top of the temple of Wat Suthat Statues and other decorations around the Wat Suthat

The giant Swing which was painted in distinctive red paint is located at one of the main entrance to the temple.

The upper pediments at two main sections have design and architectural design in raw Thai fashion.

From roof top, to garden, trees and branches, there are many sculptures, Buddhist figures being placed around the temple.


Thai Public performing their pilgrimage to the Buddha during Songkran festival at Wat Suthat, 2007 The famous King made wood carving entrance door to the Royal Chapel of Wat Suthat
Thai public performing their prayers during the Songkran festival. The temple management permitted worshippers to bath the Buddha just outside the main viharn. The door shown at left, which reputedly was designed, hand crafted by the King Rama III himself was protected by plastic sheets in order to preserve its original state during the festive season of water festival. This image was a scanned copy.


A view of the rear section of the Main Wihan of Wat Suthat Open space and clean surrounding of Wat Suthat Ritual section of Wat Suthat

Rear section view of the main viharn of Wat Suthat

Between the Main Viharn and surrounding chedi has a very spacious path

Each image at the minor chapel was adopted by family of the deceased.

 
The outer rows of the structure in a long stretch of an rectangular shape is the smaller chapels has a few hundreds of Buddha images in same dimension and appearance Those which were placed near the main entrance are of identical bronze cast colour but a few that located at the rear section near the ordination hall are in clay formation and some of them are even painted in black. I was told each of these images has been "adopted" by financially capable families to host remains of ashes of deceased family members and guarded here. These smaller metal cast images each measuring approx. 5 feet tall and has similar posture with the Phra Sri Sakayamuni inside the Viharn. They are neatly and orderly arranged with each of them arranged in row and facing the main viharn. The rows of glittering images along with path at the surrounding chapels is one of the most spectacular scene in and around around the temple compound. During major festival such as Wesak day or Songkran (It is like the New year for the Thai), family members usually come to the temple to clean up the adopted images and have gathering around the adopted image.


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The various Buddha statues around the mini chapel around Wat Suthat Buddhist Temple

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Credit: To all the good people who have contributed their own experience, resources or those who are kind enough in granting us the permission to use their images that appeared on this site. For materials, I have used some scanned images of the winning entries compiled under the "Dictionary of Buddha's Small Images" - which is my inspiration and provides wealth of information to version history. Note: Certain content and images appeared on this site were taken by using a Canon PowerShot Pro-1 digital camera. Some materials appeared on this site were scanned from some leaflets, brochures or publications published by Wat Suthat and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from such dispute except rectifying.