The viharn, a large building with a multi tiered roof, enshrines the Wat Makut’s principal Buddha image. To the back of the viharn is a very elaborate butsabok, a kind of Buddha image throne, that enshrines the bronze image in the meditation posture. Seated in front of the butsabok are the images of two followers in admiration.
A mural painting in the viharn of the Wat Makut
Detail of a mural in the viharn
Restoration
When in the early 21st century the temple had fallen in a bad state of disrepair, the Crown Property Bureau and the Thai Fine Arts Department decided to restore the temple with the intent to preserve as much of the original as possible. The Wat Makut was restored over a period of 6 years. The works were completed in 2007 in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday celebration. The restoration project was awarded with the Architectural Conservation Award of the Asa Association of Siamese Architects.
How to get to the Wat Makut
The temple is located on Krung Kasem road just South of Khlong Phadung Kasem canal, East of Prachathipatai road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district. The easiest and most comfortable way to get there is by metered taxi. The ride from the Grand Palace area should cost between 75 and 150 Baht depending on traffic. There is no BTS Sky Train station nearby. The nearest boat pier on the Chao Phraya river is Thewet pier, about one kilometer from the temple.