Wat Rakhangkhositaram
Wat Rakhangkhositaram Woramahaviharn or usually shortened to Wat Rakhangkhositaram, familiarly known as Wat Rakhang is a second-class royal monastery in Bangkok, Thailand. It's located at 250/1 Arun Amarin Road, Siri Rat Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District, Thonburi side on the west bank of Chao Phraya River near Siriraj Hospital, Wang Lang Market and Ban Khamin Junction.
The temple, formerly named "Wat Bangwayai", was built in the Ayutthaya period. It was restored and appointed a royal temple by King Taksin of Thonburi Kingdom who also sponsored the revision of the tripitaka scriptures at the temple. During the reign of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok, a melodious rakhang or bell was found in the temple compound. The king order it to be moved to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and had five new bells sent back in exchange. The king then changed the temple's name to Wat Rakhangkositaram. In the reign of King Mongkut the name was to be changed again to "Wat Rajkanthiyaram". But people don't accept this name, and the temple is still called Wat Rakhang today.
Highly venerable monk, Somdej Toh was once the abbot of this temple. At present, the temple has an old tripitaka hall, which inside, there're beautiful and precious Thai paintings. Tourism Authority of Thailand have encouraged Wat Rakhangkhositaram as one of the nine temple-based campaign "Respect to the Nine Temples" along with other temples in Bangkok including : Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Chana Songkhram, Wat Suthat, City Pillar Shrine, San Chao Pho Suea : Wat Arun and Wat Kalayanamitr.
