A Gothic day out out , Wat Niwet Thamprawat

[Bangyai]

Well, mum was in town again last month and we were scratching our heads for somewhere to take her that she hadn't already been. Didn't want to spend more than an hour in the car so that narrowed down the options.

Finaly settled on Wat Niwet Thamprawat , Thailands only Gothic temple , which is just up the road from us behind the better know Bang pa in palace complex.

Some blurb :

Wat Niwet Thammaprawat lies immediately south of the island on which the Bang Pa-In Palace stands. King Chulalongkorn (r.1868 - 1910) wanted it built in a different architectural style than other Thai Buddhist monasteries. The ordination hall is in the style of a Neo-Gothic Christian church. The windows and doors are stain-glassed. Above the door there is a picture of King Chulalongkorn in royal attire. He named the presiding Buddha image inside Phra Phutthanarumon Thammophat. The completed monastery was dedicated in 1878. The King declared it a royal monastery for the reformed sect of King Mongkut.

Google maps satellite image :





There are two novelties with this temple. Its Gothic style and the means by which you cross over to it by cable car.

When you park your car and walk over to the river bank you will see two cable cars waiting to take you over to the island on which the temple stands.







on the far bank you can see the two towers housing the operator and all the machinery




To the left of these are the monks quarters




On the far bank one crowd gets off whilst another gets ready for the return trip




smiles all round




Before we could cross, a couple of models crossed over for a matrimonial wedding shoot








This little girl was very taken with the brides white dress





We were up next. Looking up the river you see the temple island on the left and the grounds of Bang pa in palace on the right




Down stream, the river rejoins the main channel of the Chao Phrya




The view looking back across the river to the car park





A short video of the ride across




Mum and Ms Bangyai disembark and stride off into the temple

[Bangyai]

Inside the grounds it is very well kept and a pleasant air of tranquility fills the place.








Normally. I don't go for loud colour but the seem to work well together here without looking too tacky. The whole complex somehow reminded me of the Port Merrion , the Italian styled village in north Wales.












Lovely building this one

[aging one]

Nice report, believe it or not I took my mom there 20 years ago she loved it.

[Bangyai]

The main temple
























Ms Bangyai and mum take a blow. It was getting very hot and sticky at this time. Later in the day there was a terrific storm as we drove back into town





An old mangy dog on sentry go outside the museum/library building





On the far side of the temple the entrance is open so mum minces in




Beautiful interior










The ceiling




Ms Bangyai avails herself of the opportunity to make a bit of merit






To one side of the door I noticed this engraved slab of marble. Here is just a part of it. Incredible patience and craftmanship

[Bangyai]

Outside the temple the models were doing their thing






Continuing northwards you leave the main complex





Outside I came across a tall wooden post with this on top. Not sure what its about but catches the eye






The girls take another blow




The island was hit by the floods so they are currently renovating the place and building up the embankment, hence all the concrete posts along the riverbank, waiting to be driven in





In the distance a more recent addition











Coming to the riverbank, fine views upstream





Across the river, somebodys once proud mansion is going slowly to ruin





The last main building at the north of the island




Finaly, I came to the building I was getting desperate to see. The throne room !




Back inside the temple complex there is a rock garden explaining the life cycle of a rock.










More shots inside the grounds





Well....when you find a gong you Bolan it ' get it on bang a gong , get it on '








And the models were still at it so a chance to use my zoom













Oh....a pigeon has pooped on my hand





Time to move on

[Bangyai]

At the southern end of the island are the monks quarters













Finaly, before leaving the island I noticed a section of wall that has yet to be repainted following the floods. Gives an idea how deep the water was and how extensive the damage must have been

[Bangyai]

Nice report, believe it or not I took my mom there 20 years ago she loved it.

Thanks AO. Yes my mum really liked it too. Unfortunately the heat got to her though and when we returned to Bangyai she had a bit of heat stroke. This was made worse by the cold beer she had as soon as she got in and she ended up vomiting most of the evening. After that she never quite got her strength back and so the rest of her holiday she didn't feel much like going out unless it was to the local air conditioned stores.

Still, anyone looking for a cheap day out not far from the city should give the place a visit. A trip to the adjacent Bang pa in can get expensive, especially if you hire one of the electric buggies to get around the different buildings.

[storm1fishing]

Thank Bangyai for a great thread and wonderful pictures.

I wonder why they went with a christian themed temple.

[Loy Toy]

Another great thread and another place on my to-do list.

Thank you Bangyai.

[Wizard of Oz]

Wow, stunning, what a beautiful place and how odd to see a bouddha in a gothic style, almost catholic church. The use of colors on the buildings reminds me of the Dutch Caribbean.. Have to go there. Thanks for posting the pics.

[cambtek]

Great pics of beautiful buildings, I wonder what the story is on the fading mansion?
The bird on top of the pole is the horng, more cambodian culture stolen by the thai.

[Bangyai]

The bird on top of the pole is the horng, more cambodian culture stolen by the thai.

Ah.....thanks for that. Live and learn.

As for the fading mansion I'd like to know about that place too. Could always use google maps to drive there and see if its for sale. If it is , pretend to be a purchaser and ask for a closer look at the inside. Even as it stands must be worth a few million.

[Loombucket]

A great report Bangyai, with some nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[beerlaodrinker]

Cheers bangyai
the little cable car looked like fun