On the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river and along Khlong Bangkok Noi and Khlong Bangkok Om Noi, several temples have beautiful, interesting and certainly pictoresque mural paintings.
These are not really accessible for the visiting tourist. They certainly do not feature on any guided tourist tour. The temples housing these painting are often in a state of disrepair, and locked to the general public. One has to be able to speak Thai language, be patient and assertive at the same time, to get these treasures unlocked.
Unfortunately, it can be expected that most of what you see here, will disappear in the real world in the next 50 years or so. The stucco murals really are suffering a lot, and not sufficient effort and money is being spent on preserving them.
Most scenes depict Jataka Tales (the previous lives of the Buddha), and were painted during the reigns of Rama 3 and 4. We show mainly details of the various scenes, since the larger pictures do not easily fit on any computer screen.
(more Bangkok pages :Bangkok, Wat Pho)
To enlarge and see slide show click any picture.
1. Orders from the general staff.
2. Let's do battle. (1)
3. Let's do battle. (2)
(Wat Bang Yi Khan)
4. Let's do battle. (3)
5. The king.
6. Royal emblems.
(Wat Bangk Yi Khan)
7. Door Panel.
8. Pierced from all sides.
9. Royalty.
(Wat Suwannaram)
10. Unfriendly seas.
11. Enjoying the view.
12. Oops ! I did it again.
(Wat Suwannaram)
13. Don't you see I am busy?
14. Giving alms (Wat Suwannaram).
15. We're coming to get you (Wat Pho Bang O).
