Wat Pathum Wanaram: a calm oasis beside Siam, opening hours and how to get there
Wat Pathum Wanaram is a 19th-century royal temple tucked between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld, a few steps from the BTS. Pass through a gate, walk under a few trees, and the noise of the malls fades: you hear monks sweeping and see worshippers kneeling on the red carpet of the ordination hall. Entry is free. Allow 30 to 45 minutes, easy to fit between two malls. It was founded in 1857 by King Rama IV (Mongkut), who gave it to Queen Debsirindra and settled Dhammayut monks from Wat Bowonniwet here. Its name, "Sa Pathum", refers to the lotus pond that lay within the royal enclosure.
Highlights
The whole temple
Seen from above, the temple is an island of red and orange roofs surrounded by office towers and malls. It is one of the sharpest contrasts in Bangkok.
The white chedi and the ubosot
The big white chedi is visible from afar above the trees. The ubosot, the ordination hall, has a multi-tiered roof and gilded gables; you enter barefoot and in silence.
The lotus pond
The pond that gives the temple its name recalls the days when Rama IV had monks rowed around the enclosure to receive alms. It is still a quiet corner to sit.
The relics and the exhibition
According to visitors, a small hall shows Buddhist relics and temporary exhibitions. The content changes, so do not count on it; check on the spot whether it is open.
A place of remembrance
In May 2010, during the dispersal of the Ratchaprasong protests, the temple had been designated a safe zone and several people died there. It remains a place of reflection: behave as you would in any place of worship.
Practical info
Tips
- This is a working temple: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering halls, keep your voice low, and do not photograph worshippers at prayer. Entry is free; give money only in the temple's donation boxes. For the area and its malls, read our guide to Siam and Pathumwan and the page on the Siam shopping malls. For another temple of the same order, see Wat Bowonniwet, and for the big temples, our guide to Bangkok temples.
How to get there
Rama I Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld. The simplest way is the BTS Siam or Chit Lom station: about 3 to 5 minutes on foot, along the walkway linking the malls, then a staircase or a gate on Rama I Road. See our guide to the BTS and MRT.
Opening hours
Nearby
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