Bangkok attractions - temples in Bangkok Thailand |
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 Grand
Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Lacation : Na Phrathat Road
This is the most famous place that is a must for all tourists.
It is a large compound located near Sanam Luang in the
very heart of Bangkok. The Grand Palace and the Temple
of the Emerald Buddha were built after King Rama I ascended
the throne as the founder of the Chakri Dynasty on 6 April
1782 and have undergone several repairs and renovations.
The Grand Palace consists of several buildings with
different styles of architecture. Wat Phra Kaeo is renowned
as the most beautiful and important Buddhist temple
in Thailand. It houses Phra Kaeo Morakot (the Emerald
Buddha), the most highly revered Buddha image carved
from a single block of fine jade.
Scattered in the temple grounds are numerous interesting
sculptures of artistic value, including the fanciful
animals in mythology, the fierce-looking giants standing
guard at the gates, the six pairs of Cambodian-style
bronze lions and the stone figures from China.
On the inside walls of the temple's compound, there
are extensive mural paintings depicting scenes from
the famous epic "Ramayana". It is the longest
wall painting in the world as well as one of the Unseen
Bangkoks. A distinctive characteristic of this temple
is that there are no monks living in it like other temples.
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 Wat
Arun (Temple of Dawn)
Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River
Arun Amarin Road at its back, it can be reached by boat
from Tha Chang Pier near Wat Phra Kaeo or Tha Tian Pier
near Wat Pho. Constructed in the 17th century, it is
attractive in its striking prangs (a kind of pagoda)
which are decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese
porcelain.
Its central prang, at a height of 82 metres (20-storey
building) is the tallest prang of Thailand. Visitors
can climb up to a high level to have a good view of
the Chao Phraya River and the nearby surroundings. Anyway,
the most beautiful view of it is from the east bank
of the river at sunset. |
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Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
Location : Si Ayutthaya Road near Chitralada Palace
Wat Benchamabophit is one of the most modern works of
Thai religious architecture where the relics of King Rama
V are enshrined. Graceful and tranquil, it is famous for
its main chapel built in white Carara Italian marble to
house a replica of Thailand's most beautiful Buddha image,
Phra Phutthachinnarat. |
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 Wat
Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon or Temple of Reclining Buddha)
Location : Chetuphon Road
Located next to the Grand Palace on the south side, this
is the oldest and biggest temple with the largest number
of pagodas (95 in all) in the city. Wat Pho is well known
for its huge Reclining Buddha, 46 m long and 15 m high.
Besides, it was the first open university of Thailand
which used to offer courses in several branches of knowledge
like literature, archaeology, astrology and medicine.
Nowadays Wat Pho is famous among foreign visitors
for its Thai Traditional Massage School which offers
three kinds of massage services namely, body massage,
body massage with herbs and foot massage. The massage
service opens daily from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. For learning
courses, there are three courses, i.e. general Thai
massage, therapeutic and healing massage and foot massage.
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Wat Traimit (Temple of the Gold Buddha)
East end of Yaowarat Road
This temple is well known for its 3-metre tall, 5.5 tonne
solid gold Buddha image, constructed over 700 years ago
during the Sukhothai period. Originally the gold image
was covered with plaster to conceal it from the invading
Burmese and was just rediscovered accidentally about 40
years ago. |
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 Wat
Suthat
Location : Bamrung Muang Road
Wat Suthat is a good place to see the blend of Thai art
and Chinese art, the style which flourished in the reign
of King Rama III (1824 - 1851). The main features include
a 14th century large cast bronze presiding Buddha, the
beautiful murals in the main building, and splendid carving
door leaves which are replicas of the masterpiece of King
Rama II. In front of the temple is the famous Giant Swing
, formerly used in an annual Brahman rite in honour of
the Hindu God Shiva. |
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Wat Ratchabophit
Location : Ratchabophit Road
Wat Suthat is a good place to see the blend of Thai art
and Chinese art, the style which flourished in the reign
of King Rama III (1824 - 1851). The main features include
a 14th century large cast bronze presiding Buddha, the
beautiful murals in the main building, and splendid carving
door leaves which are replicas of the masterpiece of King
Rama II. In front of the temple is the famous Giant Swing
, formerly used in an annual Brahman rite in honour of
the Hindu God Shiva. |
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Wat Ratchanatdaram
Location : At the corner of Ratchadamnoen Road & Mahachai
Road
This royal temple was built in the reign of King Rama
III in 1846. It is famous for its Loha Prasat (Metal Castle)
standing to the west of the main temple. It is square
in shape with 3 storeys and 37 spires, which symbolize
37 qualities contributing to enlightenment in Buddhism.
Inside this chedi is enshrined an urn containing relics
of the Buddha. Despite its name, there is no metal part
in the whole structure except the lightning rods fixed
to the pagoda tops. Presently, it is the only one of its
kind left in the world. (The two formerly built in India
and Sri Lanka were already in ruins.) |
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Wat Thepthidaram
Location : Mahachai Road, Next to Wat Ratchanatda
Wat Thepthidaram was built between 1836 and 1839 by command
of King Rama III. The exquisite designs in this temple
constitute the four directional Stupas created by court
artisans and the mural paintings on the walls of the main
temple
The style of buildings, the decorative patterns with
glazed tiles and the Chinese stone dolls all reflect
the influence of Chinese architecture |
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Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)
Location : Off Ratchadamnoen Avenue, opposite to Wat Ratchanatda
across a canal
This old temple is well-known for its golden chedi atop
the Golden Mount of a height of 77 metres. The artificial
hill was created when a large chedi (pagoda) under construction
by King Rama III collapsed because of the soft soil underneath.
Later King Rama IV commanded the construction of a small
chedi on its crest, in which a Buddha relic from India
is housed.
Climbing up the stairs to the top of the mount, visitors
can have a stunning panoramic view of Rattanakosin Island.
Every year in November, a festival is held at Wat Saket
which includes a candlelit procession up the Golden Mount
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Wat Rakhangkositaram
Location: Arun Amarin Road
This old temple formerly named Wat Bangwayai was built
in the Ayutthaya period. During the renovation in the
reign of King Rama I, a sonorous rakhang or bell was found
in the temple compound. The king ordered it to be moved
to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and sent five new
bells there in exchange, which are now hung on the belfry.
The king then changed the temple's name to Wat Rakhangkositaram.
The belfry which is the symbol of the temple, was built
in the four-gable style of the early Rattanakosin period.
The scripture hall or ho trai consisting of three adjoining
buildings has been declared one of the most outstanding
examples of Thai architecture.
The ubosot or main chapel in the style of King Rama I
's reign features a three-tiered roof and the murals which
were painted by Phra Wanwatwichit, a great artist of the
King Rama VI reign |
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