Phra Ubosot (Ordination Hall)
Construction of the ordination hall began during the reign of King Rama II, on the site presumed to have been the location of the “Rong Phra Kaeo” (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) during the Thonburi period.
The building features a rectangular plan with a raised foundation and a walkway (balcony/cloister) surrounding the perimeter. The walls and balcony pillars are adorned with custom-made glazed ceramic tiles featuring a dok phut tan (cotton rose) floral pattern. The balcony pillars are yor mum mai sip song (indented corners of twelve, referring to the specific chamfered shape) and are decorated with pillar cornices. The gate arches are in the song yot prang (dual apex prang) style. The window arches are in the song banthalaeng (Banthalaeng-style, a gable-like architectural element) adorned with gilded stucco relief work and glass mosaic.
In the center of both width-end walls are carved wooden busabok (tiered, canopied throne-like structures) with prang (Khmer-style tower) apexes, gilded and inlaid with glass mosaic. These were built during the reign of King Rama IV. Inside the busabok on the front side of the Phra Ubosot, a standing Buddha image in the Pang Ham Samut (Pacifying the Ocean) posture, named “Phra Phutthanaruemithr,” is enshrined.
The Phra Ubosot‘s gabled roof features surrounding eaves supported by kan thuay (cantilevered brackets). The roof is layered in 2 chan 3 tap langkha (2 tiers, 3 sections of roofing). The pan lom (bargeboards) are in the khrueang lamyong style (a decorative architectural element found on gables, often with Naga heads). The wooden na ban (gable front) is carved, gilded, and adorned with colored glass mosaic, depicting an angel holding a sword within a castle.
Within the interior of the Phra Ubosot, the principal Buddha image in the Pang Man Wichai (Subduing Mara) posture, named “Phra Phutthathammitsarat Lokathatdilok,” is also enshrined.
Surrounding the Phra Ubosot are carved stone bai sema (boundary markers), each housed within a carved marble sum sema (sema arch/pavilion), which is shaped like a pagoda top. The spaces between the sum sema are adorned with carved stone Chinese lion figures standing on square pillar pedestals, arranged to form a continuous kamphaeng kaew (crystal wall, referring to low surrounding wall) enclosing the Phra Ubosot.
Further out, at the four corners of the lan prathaksin (circumambulation courtyard), are stone pagodas and Chinese stone figures of individuals, encircling all four sides of the lan prathaksin. Additionally, pairs of cast iron elephants are located at the entrance gates of all four sides of the phra rabiang (cloister/verandah).
The outermost boundary of the Phra Ubosot area is defined by the phra rabiang, which enshrines 120 Buddha images in the Pang Man Wichai (Subduing Mara) posture. There are entrance and exit gates located at the center of each of the four sides of the phra rabiang. These gates are designed with a chatthuramuk (four-gabled) roof, layered in two tiers. The na ban (gable fronts) are adorned with gilded carved wood patterns featuring Phra Narai (Vishnu) riding on a Garuda, inlaid with glass mosaic.
