WAT BOWONNIWET

Situated northeast of the Pramane Ground, on Phra Sumen Road, Wat Bowonniwet is off the beaten track but worth visiting.

It is distinguised as the temple where King Rama IV, prior to succeeding to the throne in 1851, founded the Thammayut monastic sect, which follows a stricter discipline that that of the older Mahanikai order.

Subsequently, kings and royal princes have traditionally spent their time of monastic retreat here.

Dating mostly from the reign of King Rama III, Wat Bowonniwet is also notable for its strikingly original 19th century murals painted by Khrua In Khong, the first major Thai artist to experiment with Western stylistic influences.