Wat Pathum Wanaram
Rama I Rd
About
Wat Pathum Wanaram (วัดปทุมวนาราม), Rama I Rd (BTS Siam). 07:00-18:00 daily. Right between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld in the middle of consumerism, this temple is often overlooked. While it is not as remarkable as the temples found in Rattanakosin, it does remind us of the spiritual history of Thailand. Wat Pathum was founded in 1857 by King Mongkut (Rama IV) when the area was surrounded by canals and rice fields. It was built to function as a place of worship close to the Sra Pathum Palace. At the temple is the Phra Meru Mas, a reconstruction of the crematorium of the Princess Mother, whose remains were transferred here after her cremation at Sanam Luang. During the May 2010 red shirt protests, this temple functioned as a safe haven for protesting women and children. Free.