TEMPLES
IN BANGKOK THAILAND |
Bangkok
hotels room and accommodation with huge discount
Bangkok Attractions:  General
Temples
Vimanmek
Palaces River
& Canal Tours
Museums/Exhibitions
Parks
/ Zoos
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Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo (Tel: 222-0094, 222-6889,
222-2208)
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.
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Wat Mahathat (Tel: 222-6011, 222-8004)
This old temple was built in the reign of King Rama I. It is
located on Na Phrathat Road near Thammasat University. The temple
houses Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, one of the two
highest seats of Buddhist learning in Thailand and also offers
meditation classes for foreigners.
The temple complex is open daily from 9.00 a.m.- 5.00 p.m
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Wat Pho (Tel: 222-0933)
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.
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Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) (Tel: 465-5640) Details
This famous Chao Phraya riverbank landmark diagonally opposite
the Grand Palace, is best known for a porcelain encrusted 79
meter central pagoda (phra prang) which sparkles in the sun.
The temple can be reached either by Arun Amarin Road or by boat
from Tha Tien Pier near Wat Pho.
Wat Arun is open daily from 08:30 - 17:30.
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.
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Wat Suthat and 'The Giant Swing
Located on Bamrung Muang Road, this temple is noted for its
superb 19th century murals in the main chapel. The distinctive
Giant Swing outside the temple was once used in Brahmanic ceremonies
long since discontinued. Nearby shops stock a very comprehensive
range of Buddhist religious supplies.
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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.
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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.
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Wat Indravihan
Located in the Bang Khun Phrom area on Wisutkasat Road, this
temple is well known for a huge standing Buddha image called
Luang Pho To. The image, built in the reign of King Rama IV,
is 32 meters tall and 10 meters wide. The topknot of the Buddha
image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.
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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.
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Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) (Tel: 281-2501)
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.
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Wat Saket and The Golden Mountain Details
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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Wat Sao Thong Thong houses an old Ayutthaya
style chedi and was the first secondary school in Pak Kret.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Wat Pak Nam is famous for amulets and
is always crowded with a number of people who come to make merit
during the weekend.
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Wat Ko houses an old viharn (chapel)
which was registered as an archaeological site
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Provided by Tourism Authority
of Thailand
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+66 75 623949