BANGKOK, Aug 16 – There is concern over deterioration of Khmer- styled stupas at Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn, one of Bangkok’s most famous attractions, drawing several hundred thousands of tourists each year.
This is what remains of a statue of a horse, part of a stupa at the temple. Its head fell off last week after enduring weather changes, heavy rain, strong winds and scorching sunlight. It happened once last year. No one was hurt in either incident.
The temple needs large-scale restoration of all its stupas as the last government-sponsored restoration was done 50 years ago.
“If it is only partly repaired, it will not be beautiful. All parts should be done at the same time. This is very difficult for the temple to do entirely on its own,” said Phrakru Arunthammanuwat, assistant to the Abbot of the temple.
The Fine Arts Department has already surveyed the stupas’ structure and confirmed it is still strong and intact. Moreover, City Hall’s flood prevention measures are effective in protecting it.
Regarding the fallen head of the horse statue, the Fine Arts Department will speed up repairs by using an old technique of stuccowork and painting from a model of the remaining heads. It will take about three months with an estimated budget of some 300,000 baht.
