Wat Molilokayaram

Rating: 3/5 (12 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 16.00

 

Wat Molilokayaram is an old temple on the Thonburi side of Bangkok that can tell the story of the Thonburi and Rattanakosin periods in one place, through faith, royal connections, and the everyday role of a community temple that still genuinely “works” for local life. The temple is believed to date back to the Ayutthaya era, yet there is no conclusive evidence of exactly who built it or the precise year of its founding. In earlier times, people commonly called it “Wat Thai Talat” because it stood beyond the old Thonburi market area. When King Taksin established Thonburi as the capital, the monastic precincts of Wat Chaeng (today Wat Arun Ratchawararam) and Wat Thai Talat were incorporated into the royal palace zone, and during that reign the temple did not have resident monks in the usual way, reflecting its special status within the royal compound.

 

After the capital moved to the Bangkok side under King Rama I, monks were invited to reside again at both Wat Chaeng and Wat Thai Talat. According to the historical narrative you provided, Phra Maha Sri from Wat Ratchasittharam was appointed as Phra Thep Moli, later elevated in rank, and subsequently became abbot of Wat Thai Talat. From that point onward, the temple regained a full monastic life and gradually accumulated importance until it became a royal temple with a continuous place in the history of the Thonburi side of Bangkok.

 

Another period that sharpened the temple’s profile was the time of King Rama II, when he was still Prince Isarasunthorn. He ordered major repairs and the construction of the ordination hall, and a new royal name was bestowed, as preserved in the tradition you shared. In that era, the meaning of a temple went beyond buildings. A great deal of basic learning for princes and commoners alike took place in temple schools, and the renowned monastic academy of Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan (Khun) was especially respected among the royal family, reinforcing the idea that “the temple was a school” in a very literal sense.

 

Later, in the reign of King Rama III, the temple was renovated on a large scale across the entire compound, and the royal name “Wat Molilokasudharam” was granted, which later became widely known as “Wat Molilokayaram.” In the same reign, Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan passed away, and a life-size seated bronze statue was cast and enshrined within the temple for veneration. The story you provided also links this devotion to the tradition of royal Kathin offerings, in which the act of paying homage to Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan became intertwined with state-level merit-making and ceremonial memory, giving the temple a lasting identity as a place connected to royal ritual.

 

For visitors who enjoy reading a temple through both sacred objects and craftsmanship, Wat Molilokayaram offers clear highlights. Key devotional objects include the principal Buddha image in the ordination hall, described as a cast Buddha in the subduing Mara posture, and the statue of Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan (Khun) with an inscribed base that carries a distinct “state voice” and a formal intention that disciples should venerate it across generations. Architecturally, the ordination hall reflects early Rattanakosin Thai design, with roof details, chofa and bai raka, woodwork, and traditional decorative techniques, while the gable is associated in your narrative with later restoration in the reign of King Rama IV. The temple also has a viharn with a Thai–Chinese blended character and the well-known tradition of the “salt warehouse viharn,” a reminder that in certain periods religious space could be used for practical state reasons as well as ritual purposes.

 

What makes Wat Molilokayaram especially compelling today is that it remains a temple that actively functions, as a place for daily merit-making, as an educational center for monastic studies, and as a social anchor for the surrounding community. Based on the information you provided, the temple has a large number of resident monks and novices, and it operates a Pali and Dhamma study school from introductory levels up to advanced examinations. In other words, the old Bangkok idea that “a temple is a school” has not disappeared here. It continues as a living structure that supports both community life and the monastic order.

 

Getting There If you want the most flexible approach, you can connect via the Tha Tien–Wat Arun area and then continue on the Thonburi side according to traffic conditions, or travel by river boat and take a short taxi/ride-hire connection to suit your schedule. If you come by car or taxi, simply pin the temple name and choose a route that approaches the former Thonburi palace area conveniently. Public-transport travelers can reach the Wat Arun–Arun Ammarin zone first and then take a short local connection into the temple area depending on where they start.

 

 

A: According to the historical narrative provided, the temple was formerly known as “Wat Thai Talat” because it was located beyond the old Thonburi market area, before later receiving royal names and becoming widely known as Wat Molilokayaram.

 

A: It is recommended to pay respect to the principal Buddha image in the ordination hall and to venerate the statue of Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan (Khun), which carries strong historical meaning for the temple.

 

A: The information provided states that during Thonburi as the capital, Wat Thai Talat was incorporated into the royal-palace zone together with Wat Chaeng, and for a period it did not have resident monks, before monastic life was restored in the early Rattanakosin era.

 

A: Yes. The information provided notes that the temple operates monastic education, including Pali and Dhamma studies, continuing the long-standing tradition of “the temple as a school.”

 

A: The latest abbot is Phra Phrom Wachirodom (Suthat Warathassi), and the temple’s phone number is 02-891-0288.