The Marble Temple

the_marble_templeWat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. It is also known as the marble temple. It is one of Bangkok’s most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction. Construction of the temple began in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn after building his palace nearby. The temple’s name literally means the Temple of the fifth King located nearby Dusit Palace. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half-brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble.

It is one of Bangkok’s most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction. It typifies Bangkok’s ornate style of high gables, stepped-out roofs and elaborate finials. Merit makers come to the monks of the temple for getting alms every morning. Between 6-7:30 in the morning, the monks line up on Nakhon Phantom with their bowls to receive donations of curry, rice, lotus buds, incense, toiletries and other essentials.