Panorama taken from the temple compound of Wat Chakrawat in Bangkok.

Wat Chakrawat - Bangkok visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Wat Chakrawat' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Central Thailand.

Wat Chakrawat (วัดจักรวรรดิราชาวาสมหาวิหาร) is an old temple on the corner of Thanon Chakrawat and Thanon Sampheng in Bangkok. It used to be called Wat Sam Pluem (วัดสามปลื้ม), but the name was changed when the temple was renovated by Chao Phraya Bodintrdeja during the reign of Rama III.

Wat Chakrawat used to contain the Phra Bang Buddha, an 83cm-high standing Buddha with palms facing forward, cast in bronze and covered in gold leaf. This was brought back to Bangkok by Chao Phraya Bodintrdeja following a campaign in Laos in 1778. It was housed here as it was thought to be inauspicious to have both the Phra Bang Buddha and the Emerald Buddha both within the confines of the old city. At that time Wat Chakrawat was considered to be far enough away from Wat Phra Kaeo and the Grand Palace. In 1886 Rama IV returned the Phra Bang to Laos and moved the Wihan image from the Grand Palace to Wat Chakrawat instead.

Wat Chakrawat is on the western edge of Chinatown, and quite close to Wat Bophitphimuk Worahiharn and off the beaten track. Behind the bot is a tiny pond in which crocodiles live. It is sometimes called Wat Chakkrawat and is not to be confused with the Wat Cahkrawat in Ayutthaya.

Wat Chakrawat
Thanon Chakrawat
Khet Samphanthawong
Bangkok

Bus: Thanon Yaowarat (วัดสามปลื้ม) (1, 4, 7, 25, 53, 508)
Ferry: Saphan Phut Express Boat Pier, Ratchawong Express Boat Pier