Wat Bot Samsen

Location:  Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok Province

Occupant:  Wat Bot Samsen

Year established:  1932

Wat Bot Samsen is a royal temple for the Theravada Buddhist monks of the Maha Nikayasect in Thailand. The land area is eight rai and three tarangwaa. It was established on February  1 ,1708 and received Prarachtan Wisugcamsima on February 20, 1728 in the late Ayudhaya period of Somdej Phra Chaoyuhua Boromakot. The name of the temple builder is unknown. After the establishement of the Rattanakosin Island, the temple was renovated by Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat. And the temple has been continually maintained ever since.

The architecture is of the early RAttanakosin period style. The temple is composed of a Ubosot(the old one) is the only Ubosot in the Ayudhaya style. The building is curved like the bottom of a sailing boat. The mural paintings found inside the Ubosot are of the late Ayudhaya period. They depict Marn Phachon on the front wall above the door, Thepchoomnoom images on the side walls and Wedsandon Chadok images on the wall near the windows.

Pagoda is in the front of the Ubosot. It is the castle-like pagoda in the Prasat style located on a high base with the Larn Prathaksin on the top. The upper base(Ruan That) has the Jara Nam arches with Buddha statues facing four directions. The top of pagoda is in the twelve notchedrim style.

Mondop of the Footprint of Buddha has a square layout in the Prasat style located on a high base with the tile roof of the Chedi style. The colored painting of Thephanom and Kanok patterns are decorating the tympanum. The four arch doors are found on its four sides. The Buddha statue is placed on the high base decorated with a lotus pattern.

Bell Tower is a two-storey square building. Its tile roof was installed in the Prasat style with casting decorating it. The building has four poles. Each pole is decorated with flowers and the Prachamyarm patterns on its top.

Pier Pavilion/Sala Thanam (in front of Monk’s Dwelling) is a building in the tetrahedron shape. The two stairs lead to the river. The building is surrounded by short fences. It has a wooden roof. The wooden carved gable is decorated of flowers and plants pattern.

Pier Pavilion/Sala Thanam (in front of Bell Tower) has the triangle roof style. The building was rebuilt over the former monks dwelling. There are two entrances surrounded by short fences. The top of the building is made from wood. The gable is decorated with a Lam Yong mold casting and the roof tiles are decorated along the sides.