{{Short description|Buddhist temple in Bangkok}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Wat Ratchanatdaram | native_name = | image = 03-วัดราชนัดดาราม.jpg | image_size = 250px | alt = | caption = Loha Prasat | map_type = Thailand Bangkok | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | location = | coordinates = {{coord|13.755616|100.503930}} | religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]] | deity = | country = [[Thailand]] | functional_status = Active | website = | founded_by = King [[Nangklao]] (Rama III) | year_completed = 2007 }}
'''Wat Ratchanatdaram''' ({{langx|th|วัดราชนัดดาราม}}, {{IPA|th|wát râːt.t͡ɕʰā.nát.dāːrāːm|pron}}) is a Buddhist temple ([[wat]]) located at the intersection between [[Ratchadamnoen Avenue|Ratchadamnoen Klang]] and Maha Chai Road, in [[Phra Nakhon]] district, [[Bangkok]]. Meaning ''Temple of the Royal Niece'', the temple was built to the order of King [[Nangklao]] (Rama III) for his granddaughter, Princess [[Somanass Waddhanawathy]] in 1846. It is popularly known as ''Loha Prasat'', literally meaning the iron palace.<ref name="Rangan">{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=A visit to Loha Prasat in Bangkok will fill you with peace, joy and serenity |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/loha-prasat-this-iron-castle-officially-known-as-wat-ratchanatdaram-is-a-one-of-a-kind-temple-in-bangkok-thailand-that-houses-a-buddha-relic/cid/1896369 |access-date=31 August 2023 |agency=My Kolkata |issue=The Telegraph |date=6 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="TAT">{{cite web |title=Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan (Loha Prasat) |url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/wat-ratchanatdaram-worawihan-loha-prasat |website=Amazing Thailand |publisher=Tourism Thailand |access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
==Etymology== The name ''loha prasat'', literally means ''metal castle''. The 37 spires of the temple have a metallic finish giving the entire structure a metal like look and hence the name. The 37 spires represent the 37 Bodhipakkhiya Dharma in Buddhism.<ref name="Rangan"/><ref name="TAT"/>
==History== Although the structure was conceived in 1846 during the reign of King [[Nangklao|(Rama III)]] it was not completed during his reign. Several attempts were made by King Rama III's successor to complete it but it was only in 1960, under [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|Rama IX]], that construction was restarted. It was supervised by the [[Fine Arts Department|Fine Arts Department of Thailand]]. In 1995 a [[Relics associated with Buddha|Buddha relic]] was enshrined at the topmost spire of the Loha Parsat. In 2007 it was opened to public.<ref name="Rangan"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Loha Prasat |url=https://www.thailandmagazine.com/loha-prasat/?lang=en |website=Thailand Magazine |access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
==Architecture== Loha Prasat (โลหะปราสาท) means iron castle or iron monastery. The {{convert|36|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|sp=us}} structure is composed of seven stories divided into three levels. The bottom has 24 spires, the middle 12 and the top level has 1 spire. The top-most spire houses the Buddha relic.
A pyramid like structure created by the outer building is the widest, The next one smaller than the previous. At the ground floor there is a labyrinth supported by a great number of columns. Pictures describing the history of structure were installed in the corridors in late 2007.
The Loha Prasat at Wat Ratchanatdaram is based on an old Buddhist design and is modelled after two earlier similar structures in [[Shravasti]], [[India]] and [[Anuradhapura]], [[Sri Lanka]], both of which no longer exist. The Indian Loha Prasat contained 1,000 rooms with a golden spire on top. The Sri Lankan Loha Prasat had nine floors and the roof was thatched with copper. Precious stones, wood and ivory decorated the walls. This Laoha Prasat is the one of two remaining.<ref name="Rangan"/>
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed"> File:พระอุโบสถวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Phra Ubosot File:พระวิหารวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Phra Vihara File:ศาลาการเปรียญวัดราชนัดดา.jpg|Sala Karn Parien File:พระเสฏฐตมมุนี.jpg File:โลหะปราสาทวัดราชนัดดาราม.jpg|Loha Prasat File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-01.jpg File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-02.jpg File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-03.jpg File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-04.jpg File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-05.jpg File:Wat Ratchanatdaram-07.jpg File:(2019) วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (2).jpg </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Wat Ratchanatdaram}} * [http://www.bangkokguidebook.com/bangkok-blogs/loha-prasat---the-metal-castle.html Loha Prasat - The Metal Castle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327093418/http://www.bangkokguidebook.com/bangkok-blogs/loha-prasat---the-metal-castle.html |date=27 March 2012 }} * [http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/local-destinations/listing/wat-ratchanadda-the-loha-prasat/2438/ Wat Ratchanadda (The Loha Prasat)] * [http://www.thaibis.com/bangkok/attractions/wat-ratchanatdaram-worawihan Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan]
{{Tourist attractions in Bangkok}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|13|45|17|N|100|30|17|E|type:landmark_region:TH|display=title}}
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Bangkok|Ratchanadda]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1846]] [[Category:Phra Nakhon district]] [[Category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok]]