Bangkok Temple - Temples in Thailand

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo

This inner-city riverine landmark contains several buildings with highly detailed architectural features. Wat Phra Kaeo within the same compound, is a treasure house of Thai arts, and houses the Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand.
To help tourists enjoy their tour of the Grand Palace, a Personal Audio Guide can be rented at 100 Baht for two hours. Discs are available in seven languages-English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin.
The complex is open daily from 8.30 a.rn.-3.30 p.m. Admission fee is 200 Baht. (including a ticket to Vimanmek Royal Mansion). Proper attire is essential.

Wat Mahathat

Built during the reign of King Rama I in the 18th century, and also known as The Temple of the Great Relic, this wat houses the Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, one of the highest seats of Buddhist learning in the country. Monks from across Southeast Asia come here to study. Foreigners interested in Buddhist meditation should visit Section Five, where the Thai national headquarters of Vipassana meditation is located. English language tuition can usually be arranged. The temple's full name is Wat Mahatat Yuwaratrangsarit Ratchaworamahawihan. Admission is free.

Wat Pho

This large and extensive temple neighbours the Grand Palace enclave on Thai Wang Road and contains a gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha some 46 meters long and 15 meters high with inlaid mother of pearl soles. The temple is also regarded as the first center of public education and is sometimes called Thailand's first university.
It is open to the public daily from 9.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Admission fee is 20 Baht.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok's best know landmark. It stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri. Wat Arun is best seen from the opposite bank of the river; it glistens in the sunlight during the day and stands dark and noble at dawn or dusk. A visit to the beautiful, peaceful monastery complex surrounding the familiar towers is very worth-while. These towers, the "Phra Prang," although best known, the only part of Wat Arun. It also contains narrow lanes; elegant, old white buildings; shrines, pools of turtles. The monastery has existed for many years since the days when Ayutthaya was capital of Thailand. It was then named Wat Mokok, situated in a place called Tumbol Bangmakok. The word Bangmakok, meaning " Village of Olive", has since been shortened to " Makok".

When King Taksin and his army reached this place to build his new capital Thonburi, after defeating the Burmese who had sacked Ayutthaya, he arrived at dawn. He renamed the monastery he found there Wat Jaeng- Jaeng meaning "clear", "bright" and Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II 1809-1824 and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demos and monkeys. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower. The circumference of the base of the structure is 234 meters, and the central prang is 250 foot high.
The central balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river. From here one can see the Grand palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Po.

Wat Ratchabophit

The temple is located on Fuang Nakhon Road near Wat Pho. Built by King Rama V in 1869, it was in keeping with tradition that each monarch constructed a temple to mark his reign. The temple is a mixture of local and western styles, showing an awakening interest in new ideas and a desire to experiment with them. The exterior of the chapel is in the That style, but the interior is decorated in the European style.

Wat Suthat and 'The Giant Swing

Wat Suthat is on Bamrung Muang Road and is famous for the excellent murals created in the reign of King Rama III. The Wihara (preaching hall) should be seen for its collection of gilded Buddha images. A huge door with intricate carving, which is the masterpiece of King Rama II, once belonged to this temple and is now kept in the National Museum. In front of the temple is the Giant Swing or Sao Ching Cha, where a Brahmanic ceremony had taken place until the early 20th century. Many nearby shops stock a very comprehensive range of Buddhist religious supplies.

Wat Thepthidaram

Located on Mahachai Road, the temple was built in the reign of King Rama III with a mixture of Chinese architectural styles. Sunthon Phu, one of Thailand's greatest poets, had resided in this temple during his monk hood from 1840-1842. His residence is now open to the public.

Wat Ratchanatdaram

Located on Mahachai Road, the temple was built in the reign of King Rama III in 1846. Loha Prasat, the temple's main attraction, standing 36 meters high with 37 surrounding spires, is the only one of its kind left in the world. Next to the temple is the area for welcoming an important foreign guest and a memorial, statue of King Rama III.

Wat Bowon Niwet

This temple is located on Phra Sumen Road in the Bang Lamphu area. Built in 1829, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinnasi, a very beautiful Buddha image which was moulded in about 1357. Wat Bowon Niwet is one of the most important temples of Bangkok, whose one-time chief abbot was King Rama IV before he ascended the throne. Other Chakn kings who had resided here during their monk hood include King Rama IV and King Rama VII, as well as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Wat Benchamabophit

Located on Si Ayutthaya Road, near Chitralada Palace, this unique marble temple was constructed during the reign of King Rama V. It employs European ecclesiastic details, such as stained glass windows, and contains a superb cloister collection of bronze Buddha images.

Wat Saket and The Golden Mountain

Wat Saket's major feature is the Golden Mount, dating from the 1800s, which overlooks Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The golden chedi houses relics of Lord Buddha and offers a panoramic view of historic Bangkok.

Admission to Wat Saket is free except for the final approach to the Golden Mountain summit; which costs 10 Baht.

Other...

:: Wat Trai Mit
Located at the end of Chinatown's Yaowarat Road near Hualamphong Railway Station, this temple houses an ancient solid gold seated Buddha image of the Sukhothai Period, three meters in height and weighing five and a half tons.

:: Erawan Shrine
Located on Ratchadamri Road, the shrine devoted to Phra Phrom, a Hindu god, is greatly revered by Thai people. Laced flowers and small wooden elephants as well as Thai dancing performances are always offered to the statue by grateful devotees.

:: Wat Paramal Yikawat
was constructed in Mon style over 200 years ago. King Rama V commanded to renovate the monastery dedicated to his grandmother and to construct Phra Maha Raman Chedi (a chedi in Mon style) to house Buddha relics. The principal Buddha of the monastery is carved with marble in Mon style, so it is also called "Wat Mon" (Mon Temple).

:: Wat Phal Lom
is well-known for the magnificent bot (ordination hall) in the Ayutthaya style. Some parts have been changed due to renovation. Behind the bot, there is a chedi in Mon style.

:: Wat Sao Thong Thong
houses an old Ayutthaya style chedi and was the first secondary school in Pak Kret.

:: Wat Suwannaram
is a big royal monastery constructed during the reign of King Rama I and was subsequently renovated during the reign of King Rama III. Inside the bot, there are murals depicting the jataka, deities and the Buddha image in Subduing Mara Posture. These works of art of the early Rattanakosin period (1 9th century) are considered as the best surviving mural painting in Bangkok.

:: Wat Si Sudaram or Wat Chi Pakhao
was built during the Ayutthaya period and was renovated by King Rama I. The temple houses some interesting buildings including Tam Nak Daeng (a pavilion). Sala Kan Parian (a sermon hall) , and the residence of Sunthon Phu (the greatest poet of the Rattanakosin period). Moreover, visitors can enjoy feeding a number of freshwater fish here.

:: Wat Chalo
is assumed to have been constructed during the Sukhothai period as some Buddha images in Sukhothai style were found in front of the bot.

:: Wat Pho Bang O
is a monastery constructed during the reign of King Rama III. The top of the bot was made of wood; mural painting inside the bot was made during the existence of the Nonthaburi school of painting.

:: Wat Bang 0l Chang
houses a 200-year-old Buddha sole, which was found by Phra Khru Nawa Kam Koson (the first abbot of this monastery) while traveling in Phitsanuloke province during 1986 A.D.

:: Wat Kaeo Fa
is an ancient temple located in an open area next to Khlong Bangkok Noi. According to archaeologists, many buildings and art objects here were constructed in the Ayutthaya style; for example; the Ubosot, the Buddha image, the boundary stones, the boundary wall, the chedi behind the bot and the chedi with 12 cornered indented pillar. The monastery later was renovated during the Rattanakosin period.

:: Wat Prasat
was built during the Late Ayutthaya period. The monastery is well-known for its well-preserved mural painting made by artisans of the Nonthaburi school, and the gable made of carved timber. Visitors who come along by boat have to walk about 2 kilometers through orchards from the pier.

:: Wat Amphawan
was constructed during the Late Ayutthaya period. This temple houses Ho Trai (a hall for keeping scriptures) which is situated in the middle of a pond. The building was made of wood in magnificent Thai style.

:: Wat Pak Nam
is famous for amulets and is always crowded with a number of people who come to make merit during the weekend.

:: Wat Ko
houses an old viharn (chapel) which was registered as an archaeological site.