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Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat Thepphawararam (Thai: วัดสุทัศนเทพวราราม; Thai pronunciation:) is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. It is classified as a first-class royal temple, one of ten such temples in Bangkok (and twenty-three in Thailand). It is a temple located within the Inner Rattanakosin area, distinguished by the Giant Swing that stands directly in front of it.

Construction was begun by King Rama I in 1807. The temple was originally called "Wat Maha Sutthawat" (วัดมหาสุทธาวาส) and was built in a grove of Combretum trees. Further construction and decoration were carried out under King Rama II, who personally helped carve the wooden doors, but the complex was not completed until the reign of King Rama III in 1847 or 1848.

The temple enshrines the Buddha image Phra Si Sakyamuni (พระศรีศากยมุนี; RTGSPhra Si Sakkayamuni), which was transferred from Sukhothai Province. Around the lower terrace of the main base are twenty-eight Chinese pagodas symbolizing the twenty-eight Buddhas of Theravada tradition. Wat Suthat also houses Phra Buddha Trilokachet (พระพุทธไตรโลกเชษฐ์; RTGSPhra Phuttha Trai Lokkachet) in the ubosot (ordination hall), and Phra Buddha Setthamuni (พระพุทธเศรษฐมุนี; RTGSPhra Phuttha Setthamuni) in the sala kan parian, the preaching and assembly hall.

In 2005, the temple was submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future World Heritage Site.