Wat Niwet Thammaprawat Ratchaworawihan, Ayuttaya, Thailand
Bang Pa-In Palace, the historic summer residence of the Thai royal family, is home to Wat Niwetthammaprawat, one of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Thailand. Unlike other temples which follow fairly standard architectural designs, this temple is designed to look like a Gothic-style Western Christian church – complete with stained glass and a steeple!
The royal temple was designed by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in the late 1800s following his return from a long trip touring Europe. During his travels, the forward-thinking monarch was inspired by what he saw, and upon his return to Thailand, sought to modernize the country. During his reign, he ordered the construction of the first railroads, oversaw the first paved roads and public utilities, and abolished slavery.
The king was also inspired by the beautiful architecture that he saw while visiting Europe’s great cities. Although a devout Buddhist, King Chulalongkorn ordered the construction of a temple inspired by the designs of Europe’s most famous Gothic churches.
The result is Wat Niwetthammaprawat, a beautiful temple with royal grade status. Instead of a cross and altar, the sanctuary features an impressive Buddhist shrine.
Italian marble tiles the floors, and bright stained glass windows let in lots of colorful light. The temple really reflects a perfect blend between European architecture and Thai religion. If you are visiting Bang Pa-In Palace, it’s really worth the extra few minutes to visit the temple.
Bang Pa-In is located between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. You can reach it easily (around an hour) by bus or minibus from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit).
Reference: www.acoupleofdestinations.com