Wat Benchamabophit
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Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram (Thai: วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนารามราชวรวิหาร) is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple, it is one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction.
Construction of the temple began in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn after building his palace nearby. The temple's name literally means the Temple of the fifth King located nearby Dusit Palace. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half-brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble.
Inside the Ordination Hall (Ubosot) is a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue named Phra Buddhajinaraja, cast in 1920 after the original located in Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok. The ashes of King Chulalongkorn are buried beneath the statue. In the gallery surrounding the ordination hall are 52 buddha statues, collected by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab for his king.
The temple was featured in the famous The Amazing Race 9 as the 10th and final elimination pit-stop.
The site contains the Benchamabophit National Museum.
[edit] Protection
In 2005, the temple was submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future World Heritage Site.
[edit] Image Galleries
 Phra Buddhajinaraja |
 Mural of Thousand Angels |
 Benchamabophit main entrance |
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 Monks as seen from the outside (photography is not permitted inside the temple) |
 In front of The Marble temple |
[edit] External links
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Coordinates: 13°45′58″N 100°30′51″E / 13.76611°N 100.51417°E
