Tag: Wat Rachathiwas Woravihara

In Dusit District which is another area in Bangkok where there are many hidden historic attractons located. The district is not far from the main attractions (Grand Palace and Wat Pho etc.) and less known to foreign tourists. Therefore, the area is off-the-beaten-track. In this blog, let me walk you through these hidden historic attractions which are Wat Rachathiwas, Conception Church, St. Francis Xavier Church, Vietnamese Food at Samsen and Wat Samananaum Borihan. If you're interested in visiting these offbeat attractions on your Bangkok trip, you can contact Explorenique to customize your Bangkok private and custom tour. Let first start off with Wat Rachathiwas. Wat Rachathiwas Woravihara Formerly 'Wat Samorai', after the major renovation under Rama IV, it was renamed to 'Rachathiwas Woravihara' (the temple where the king resides) because it was the King's domain in his monkhood and established the Dharmayukti Order. Photo credit : watraja.org Photo credit : wikimedia.org Another major renovation in Rama V's reign was directed by Prince Narit. The ordination hall was built in Khmer architecture resembling Angkor Wat, inside are frescoes painted by Italian painter Carlo Riguli. There is also the temple's teak wood sermon hall that is the biggest one in Thailand. Photo credit : readthecloud.cowat-rajadhivas Photo credit : Splendour Photo credit : watraja.org Conception Church A short walk from Wat Rachathiwas , you can visit some of the oldest Catholic communities in Bangkok where the oldest church in Bangkok is located, Conception Church. The church was first built in the Ayutthaya era by Bishop Louis Laneau, who moved to Bangkok after he received consecration in Ayutthaya. Photo credit : วัดคริสในสยาม เฟสบุคเพจ The church and a hospital were built on the land donated by King Narai. In 1765, Portuguese and Cambodian Catholics who fled from Cambodia and came to seek refuge in Siam,