Wat Bowon Nivet

Wat Bowon Nivet is a major Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district located on Phra Sumen Road in the Banglamphu area in Bangkok. The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya school of Thai Theravada Buddhism and has been a major temple of patronage for the Chakri dynasty. Built in A.D.1829, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinnasi, a very beautiful Buddha image which was moulded around A.D.1357.

Prince Bhikku Mongkut arrived at the temple in 1836 (ordination name: Vajirañāṇo) and became the first abbot. He later ascended to the throne as King Rama IV. His great grandson, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ordained at the Grand Palace Wat Phra Kaew and resided here for a short period after he became King.

King Bhumibol's mentor, Somdet Phra Yanasangworn eventually became abbot of the temple, and later, the Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism. King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s son, Prince Vajiralongkorn was also ordained and spent a short period at this temple, as well as several of the Prince's own sons.

Nothing much can be gathered here which relates to Wat Bowon’s amulets in the past but we hope you will enjoy the photo tour of the temple's compound and its surroundings.

Wat Bowon had issued a new batch of highly collectible votive tablet series last year in B.E. 2551 (A.D.2008) to pay tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol. Below are some pictures of this new batch where the fund from renting these tablets goes into the temple renovation and other charity works.

This batch is very beautiful and Wat Bowon seldom creates new amulets. Below are fine 2 examples of the B.E.2551 batch.

Wat Bowon Nivet is also famous for consecrating Phra Kring with a long history apart from Wat Suthat which is also very famous. Phra Kring Pawaled is perhaps one of the rarest and most expensive ringing amulet in Thailand and is estimated no more than 30 pieces was made by Somdej Krompaya Pawaled of Wat Bowon during B.E.2417-B.E.2425.  

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