Bangkok Temple Guide
The Golden Mount
Bangkok Temple GuideThis Bangkok Temple Guide of mine is just a small selection of some of the most important as well as the most impressive temples you could ever wish to visit on your travels here. There are close to a thousand temples scattered around this sprawling and chaotic city. Far too many to visit on any one occasion. Did you know that there are approximately thirty thousand temples throughout Thailand.On account of the limited or restricted time you may have to spend in Bangkok,
Wat Arun
Bangkok Temple GuideWat Complex StructuresMost temples you'll come across in Bangkok are contained within what is referred as a Wat Complex. Allow me to explain. A Wat is basically a collection of buildings and structures within an enclosure that serve various purposes. Examples of this can be seen in monasteries, temples, chedi, wihans, bots, mondops and so forth.The structural style and layout of a Wat Complex may vary considerably however most follow the same basic principles as do the functions of the various buildings. A Mondop is basically a square-shaped structure topped with either a cruciform roof as is easily recognized at Wat Benchamabophit or a spire as can be seen at Wat Phra Keaw. The edifice contains an object of worship or sacred texts. A Bot or Ubosot is an ordination hall mostly reserved for monks. It is similar in style to that of a wihan but surrounded by bai semas whereas the wihan is not. A bot usually faces east and is often home to the Wat's most dominant Buddha. A Wihan on the other hand, is an assembly hall similar to that of a bot only much larger. There are many examples of this type of eclectic mix of architectural style buildings throughout Bangkok as well as in the rest of Thailand. A Chedi is a solid structure encasing a relic of a Buddha such as a fragment of bone, a sample of hair or ashes from a past king. Many of these structures are gilded in gold as can be seen at the Golden Mount.
Wat Pho
Bangkok Temple GuideImpressive Wat ComplexesThe Grand Palace is without doubt the most visited temple complex in Bangkok. Occupying an enormous enclosed area and containing Wat Phra Kaew within it's grounds, the compound was for many many years a self-sufficient city within a city. The palace was also the official residence of the king until 1946. Although some of the buildings may not be open to visitors, there is still a lot to see here.Wat Phra Kaew is mostly known as the temple of the Emerald Buddha but this magnificent compound has so much more to offer. The monastic structures and palace chapels seen here were fashioned from the former capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. They symbolize the simultaneous founding of the Chakri Dynasty. This temple complex is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Bangkok.
Grand Palace
Bangkok Temple GuideImpressive Wat ComplexesWat Arun is a striking Bangkok landmark known as the Temple of Dawn and named after Aruna, the Hindu god of dawn. This Khmer architectural inspired temple owes it's name to a legend in which King Taksin arrived here at sunrise from the sacked capital of Ayutthaya and soon began to enlarge the tiny temple that once stood on this site. The temple's high prang stands majestically proud on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.Wat Benchamabophit is the last major temple to be built in Bangkok and has a unique blend of classical Thai and nineteenth century European design. It is also known as the Marble Temple due to it's Italian marble wall cladding. The building sports exquisite cascading cruciform roof levels, stained-glass windows depicting scenes from Thai mythology and is home to a copy of a highly revered Buddha.
Wat Bowonniwet
Bangkok Temple GuideImpressive Wat ComplexesWat Bowonniwet is a nineteenth century temple located in tree-filled grounds. The temple has a strong Chinese style architectural influence and is the center for the strict Thammayut sect of Buddhism. The grounds contain a central golden chedi flanked by two symmetrical temples. They house several murals depicting traditional two-dimensional Thai scenes but from a more western perspective.Wat Rachanadda Buddhist Temple in Bangkok is also home to the multi-tiered Loha Prasat Monastery or metal castle as it is known. Apart from it being the main attraction, it's inescapably the most striking feature here. The monastery is 36 metres high with 37 metal spires signifying 37 virtues toward enlightenment. Wat Saket is situated between Boriphat Road and Lan Luang Road just outside the new city walls. The temple is known as the Golden Mount and a well-known landmark in Bangkok containing Buddha relics within the temple's 58 metre high chedi. From here you'll be able to enjoy the most spectacular views of the city.
Wat Phra Kaew
Bangkok Temple GuideImpressive Wat ComplexesWat Suthat is Thailand's sixth most important temple populated by pagodas and statues. On it's grounds in Bangkok stands the tallest viharm home to one of the largest surviving Sukhothai Bronze Buddhas. On the square in front of the temple is a red-painted Chinese frame known as Sao Ching Cha. This giant swing was once the centerpiece for an annual ceremony honouring the Hindu God Shiva.Wat Pho is not only the largest and oldest temple complex in Bangkok but also Thailand's foremost public education center. The chapel housing the enormous gold-plated reclining Buddha has turned the complex into a place of learning. On the premises is one of the most respected massage schools and the courtyards are a labyrinth of walkways strewn with several chedi including the central Phra Si Sanphet Chedi where the remains of a sacred Buddha image is encased. Wat Mahathat is a fairly large and busy temple complex located adjacent to the circular-shaped lawn of Sanam Luang and the nearby Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. The buildings here may not hold any particular architectural features of great interest, as it's more notable for it's bustling ambiance than it's structures. Wat Traimit is mostly acknowledged as the temple of the Golden Buddha as it's here that the world's largest solid gold Buddha resides. It's made of 18-carat gold and weighs more than five tons. Believed to be a 13th century Sukhothai image, it's real golden identity was only recently discovered by accident in 1955. Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing
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