Wat Cholapratharn Rangsarit

Wat Cholapratharn Rangsarit is a temple shaped by both transition and vision. Its origins lie in the merging of two older riverside temples, Wat Bot and Wat Choeng Tha, which were relocated and re-established when the Royal Irrigation Department expanded its land use along the Chao Phraya River. Under the leadership of M.L. Chuchat Kamphu, the two temples were brought together and rebuilt on their present site on Tiwanon Road, with the formal opening of the new temple taking place on 20 May 1960.

From its earliest years, the temple became a living center of modern Buddhist practice under Luang Poh Panyananda Bhikkhu, who served as its first abbot from 1960 to 2007. The temple became especially known for making Dhamma accessible to contemporary society, including its influential Sunday Dhamma talks, regarded as among the first of their kind in Thailand. Over time, the temple’s importance in Thai religious life was formally recognized when it was elevated to the status of a third-class royal temple in 2012.

For this sacred setting, BMG was entrusted with the creation of spiritually unified ensemble of stone works that support both the contemplative atmosphere of the temple and the reverent memory of its lineage. These works included a Gandhara Buddha crafted from limestone and white jade, lotus base in Black Zimbabwe stone, sculptural bases in Imperial red granite and black granite from India. And recently we carved stone portrait of Monk Panya Nantamunee In White Carrara.

Taken together, these elements were conceived as a shared language of material, symbolism, and devotion. The Gandhara Buddha introduces serenity, historical depth, and contemplative refinement. The lotus base speaks to purity rising above the world. The granite foundations bring weight, permanence, and ceremonial dignity. The carved portrait of Monk Panya Nantamunee adds a more personal dimension, grounding the temple space in remembrance and lineage.

In a temple so closely associated with teaching, clarity, and renewal, these works help shape an environment where history, practice, and reverence can be felt together. At Wat Cholapratharn Rangsarit, stone is not merely decorative. It becomes a vessel for continuity — carrying the memory of the temple’s rebirth, the spirit of its teaching tradition, and the dignity of those who shaped it.

These elements form a material language of serenity, purity, weight and personal remembrance, echoing the temple’s mission of renewal and living Dhamma.

Stone: White Jade, Red India and White Carrara Size: Multipal size Client: Wat Cholapratharn Rangsarit Tools Used: N/A Purpose: N/A Location: Wat Cholapratharn Pak Kret,Nonthaburi Thailand