Temple of Dawn under repair

BANGKOK, 20 August 2012: Thailand’s Ministry of Culture will allocate around Bt80 million to restore Bangkok’s must-see attraction the Temple of Dawn which suffered from floods, seepage from the river and rain damage in recent years.

Initial repairs will close some parts of the temple to tourists over the next few months. The full restoration is not due until 2017.

Culture Minister, Sukumol Kunplome, said the Fine Arts Department will conduct a thorough check on the foundations and structure of the famed temple after damage was reported last year.

“The latest damage has prompted the ministry to order restoration that will start later this month with an initial budget of Bt500,000.”

It will be used for urgent repairs to the partially damaged pagoda after a section of the neck of a horse sculpture broke  last weekend.

“It will take three months to finish repairs on the broken horse sculpture and also strengthen three other horse sculptures on the pagoda.”

Parts of the stupa will be covered while the restoration is in progress in order to prevent accidents and some parts of the temple will be cordoned off.

Ms Sukumol added: “A major repair project will be undertaken in 2017, costing at least Bt80 million.”

The Fine Arts Department general director, Somsuda Leyavanija, said major repair at the temple have been  carried out every 10 years, (1997, 2007 and the next will be in 2017).

Priceless sculptures around the pagoda are the most vulnerable to rain and wind erosion. In December last year, the month-long flood that swept over the banks of the Chao Phraya River led to the partial collapse of an old wall at the temple. This is threatening the stability of the pagoda. Fungi were also found covering

Sourced: ttrweekly