Bangkok's Top 10 Temples
Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of Dawn - There's More
Nov 2, 2008
Bangkok is full of temples. Three stand out: Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) on the grounds of the Grand Palace; iconic Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River; and Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha). But dozens more deserve a look from tourists. Here's some help in deciding which ones to take in first.
Wat Phra Kaew
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is without question the most important temple in Thailand. There are a number of reasons. The temple's connection to the king, Thailand's spiritual leader, is one reason; Wat Phra Kaew is on the grounds of the Grand Palace. The extensive collection of Buddhist manuscripts in the Wat's two libraries plays a part. But the Emerald Buddha itself is much of what makes the temple so important. The Emerald Buddha has long been venerated in Southeast Asia. Cambodia and Laos both claim it as theirs. And it is a symbol of victory in Thailand over neighboring enemies in Thailand...
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn is probably Bangkok's most visited attraction. The 260-foot prang is easily recognizable across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace. It is one of Bangkok's few temples that pre-date the move of Thai power from the capital in Ayutthaya down to Bangkok.
Wat Pho
Temple of the Reclining Buddha is actually home to over 1,000 Buddhas. Most were brought to the temple from the old Thai capitals of Sukothai and Ayuthaya. The temple is an active place. You can see Thai dance and music classes in session, get a traditional Thai massage (or learn to give one), and talk with monks who want to practice their English on you. But the main attraction is the 150 foot long, gold plated Reclining Buddha.
Wat Mahathat
The Temple of the Great Relic, Wat Mahathat is another temple that dates back to before Bangkok was the nation's capital. Many source date the temple back to the 1300's. The temple was built to house Buddha relics. King Rama IV (Mongkut) was a monk here. The temple is the main institution of the Mahanikai monastic order, Thailand's largest order of monks. The Center for Vipassana Meditation is housed on the temple's grounds.
Wat Saket
Sometimes called the Golden Mount, it was founded by King Rama III in the 1800's, Wat Saket was originally built to mark the entrance to the old city of Bangkok. The original temple collapsed because it was built on wet ground. King Rama IV built the current structure on top of the old collapsed temple to house a Buddha relic. The climb to the top of the temple is not hard, but it is about 300 steps in all. It provides a good view of the city.
Wat Suthat
This temple seems fraught with contradiction - at least to the Western mind. On the one hand it is a Buddhist temple. On the other hand it is the home of the Brahmin priest that directs the royal rituals each year. And as if to add just a touch more confusion, there is a huge red Chinese-style swing frame on the property. The Wat dates to the 1800's and houses the 25-foot tall Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha. The monks' residences are lined with 150 more golden Buddhas. Murals at the temple portray the various lives of Buddha. The temple is not much of a tourist draw, but it is an important temple to the Thais.
Wat Traimit
This is home to the world's largest solid gold Buddha - The Golden Buddha. The statue stands 15 feet tall and weighs in at about eleven thousand pounds. The Buddha dates back to the 1400's - the Sukothai era. At some point the Buddha was covered in plaster to hide its value and, over time, people forgot that it was gold underneath the plaster. The Buddha was being moved to its new home, Wat Traimit, in 1955 and the plaster was chipped; thus the value of the item was rediscovered. Wat Traimit is in Bangkok's Chinatown.
Wat Benchamabophit
Sometimes called the Marble Temple, the name "Wat Benchamabophit" translates as "Temple of the Fifth King." King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) restored the temple in the late 1800's. The temple is among the more unique and beautiful pieces of construction in the city. It is in Dusit.
Wat Rakhang
A small temple near the Grand Palace, Wat Rakhang Kositharam existed well before Bangkok became the Thai capital. It was extensively renovated in the late 1700s by King Rama I. Rama I lived on the property before he became king.
Wat Ratchabophit
Not far from the Grand Palace, this somewhat modern temple was built by Rama V in the late 1800's. The temple is interesting because of the mix of Thai and Western architectural ideas.
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