Metal gleams, a testament to faith. We are standing before Wat Ratchanatdaram, also known as Loha Prasat. This temple stands at the intersection of Ratchadamnoen Klang and Maha Chai Road. It is located in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok.
Wat Ratchanatdaram means Temple of the Royal Niece. King Nangklao, Rama III, ordered its construction in 1846. It was a gift for his granddaughter, Princess Somanass Waddhanawathy. Locals often call it Loha Prasat. This translates to iron palace.
Loha Prasat gets its name from its metallic appearance. The temple has 37 spires with a metallic finish. They give the whole structure a metal-like look. These 37 spires represent the 37 Bodhipakkhiya Dharma in Buddhism.
King Rama III conceived the structure in 1846. He did not see its completion during his reign. King Rama III’s successors tried to finish it. However, construction only restarted in 1960 under Rama IX. The Fine Arts Department of Thailand supervised the work. A Buddha relic was enshrined at the topmost spire in 1995. Wat Ratchanatdaram finally opened to the public in 2007.
Loha Prasat means iron castle or iron monastery. The structure is 36-meter-high. It is composed of seven stories, divided into three levels. The bottom level features 24 spires. The middle level has 12 spires. The top level has one spire. The topmost spire holds the Buddha relic.
The outer building creates a pyramid-like structure. It is the widest part of the temple. The next level is smaller. A labyrinth supported by many columns exists on the ground floor. Pictures depicting the history of the structure were installed in the corridors in late 2007.
Wat Ratchanatdaram’s Loha Prasat is based on an old Buddhist design. It is modeled after similar structures in India and Sri Lanka. Those structures no longer exist. The Indian Loha Prasat had 1000 rooms with a golden spire. The Sri Lankan Loha Prasat had nine floors. Its roof was thatched with copper. Precious stones, wood, and ivory decorated its walls. This Loha Prasat here is the only one remaining.
Within Wat Ratchanatdaram, you will also find Phra Ubosot and Phra Vihara. Also worth seeing is Sala Karn Parien. Wat Ratchanatdaram stands as a testament to architectural vision. It also reflects deep religious symbolism.