The Marble Temple: A glistening icon of modern Thailand

Perhaps it is the raw beauty of the glistening Italian marble or the fusion of ancient European work that draws the crowds to Wat Benchamabophit, but travellers won’t know for sure until they set foot into Bangkok’s Marble Temple and gaze at it themselves.
Unlike the Wat Pho or the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Marble Temple isn’t as rigorously promoted as the former. Hence, a select few venture to explore the compound. Being part of a royal monastery, the temple was constructed in 1889 but, is still consider as one of the most modern royal temples in the country.
What is amazing is that the structures’ European architectural influences appeal to tourists of all generations. So, whether they be Buddhist or not, there is much to tempt a first time visitor to the Marble Temple.
The finest white marble from the Carrara quarries adorns the walls of the temple as well as the floor of the courtyard. Visitors will also notice the Western style, stained-glass windows have been decorated with typical Thai religious symbols to dress them up. The centre piece at the temple is the golden statue of Lord Buddha on display.
The colorful and complex art work reveals itself to the traveler that can spare a few minutes to work around its compound. The triangular shaped section of the walls which support the roof are structures called gables, have some amazing intricate work set into them.
The view from the east gable which offers a glimpse of the temple’s tiered roof comes highly recommended. However, the glistening temple is better captured on camera during the early hours of the morning as apposed to the afternoon.
The quarters that have been separated for the Buddhist monks offer the most colourful contrasts in the compound. In addition to the monks’ quarters, the compound has a canal that runs through it, which visitors could cross by working along a red coloured bridge, of which there are three.
The Marble Temple is located within a short distance to the Vimanmek Mansion as well. So visitors heading off for a day of sight seeing might want to work the mansion also into their plans. Tourists planning to spend a few extra days in Thailand, and prefer to do a bit more walking about than shopping, should look for a central location to stay in. There are many Bangkok Apartments to choose from that offer easy access to the country’s expressway network which could be used to go about town. The Bangkok President Park offers a combination of suites and rooms, and the facilities at this Bangkok Service Apartment even include a swimming pool, a play area and business facilities as well.