Bangkok Temples & Palaces

Wat or Temples are open to all visitors. Of all the temples in Bangkok, only Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Pho, Wat Benchamabophit and Wat Arun charge admision fees to cover restoration costs.The Addmission to the rest is free. About 90% of the Thai population claim Buddhism, which is more a philosophy or way of life than a religion as practiced in the western world. Neighborhood Buddhist temples tend to be community centers.

Temples in Thailand tend to be ornate with green and orange roof tiles, gold gilt and mirrored mosaics. Chedis or stupas tend to dominate the grounds of many wats. Most temples will have a dominant Buddha image, usually brass or bronze, and a cluster of smaller statues of varying design from standing to seated to reclining. Thai Temples also tend to be quiet and peaceful, and can be a welcome respite from the heat, noise and activity of Bangkok streets. Thai wats are also a good place to meet "regular" Thai people.

Temple Etiquette Shoes should always be removed before entering a temple. Shorts are not really appropriate for temple visits, especially women. Women should also wear tops with sleeves that cover the shoulders. Women should never touch a monk or his robes. If she wishes to hand him something directly, place it on a table and let him pick it up.

Always ask, whether by word or gesture, before taking photographs. Speak quietly. Don't expect a "wai" from a monk since they only show "respect" to the Buddha. Some Famous Temples :

The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

Being the city landmarks, these two accompanying attractions serve to be the first place on any visitor’s itinerary. They are within the same compound on Na Phra Lan Road near Sanam Luang. surrounded by high white walls occupying an area of about a square mile. The palace, founded in 1782, consists of several buildings with highly decorated architectural details. The Royal Chapel, Wat Phra Kaeo, Houses the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. Photography inside this building is forbidden.

The complex is open daily from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm, admission fee is 200 baht (including tickets to the Coin Pavilion & Phra Thi Nang Viman Mek & Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall). Proper dress is required.

Bus No. 1,35,44,47,123,201
Air-conditioned Bus No. 2,3,7,8,12,25,39,44,82

Wat Pho
Temple of the Reclining Buddha

This worldwide famous temple is located right next to the Grand Palace to the south. It is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho houses the gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha image. This unique image is 49 meters long and 12 metres high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles. Wat Pho is also regarded as the first centre of public edu- cation and is sometimes called "Thailand’s First University? Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthava period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I. It feature the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.

The building housing the Reclining Buddha Image is open daily from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. An addmission fee of 20 baht is required.

Bus No. 1,19, 32, 44, 53, 57, 82
Air-conditioned Bus No. 12, 82

Wat Arun
Temple of Dawn

Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun can be reached either by Arun Amarin Road or by crossing the river by boat from Tha Tien Pier, near Wat Pho. The most attractive structure of this temple is the 79-metre-high pagoda or “Phra Prang? Wat Arun was renovated during the brief Thonburi period to be the Royal Chapel of King Taksin. Despite the meaning of its name that is “The Temple of Dawn? the most beautiful view of it is from the Bangkok side of the river at sunset. Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn is named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. It appears to all the tourist brochures and is located on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River.

King Taksin chose this 17th century Wat for his royal temple and palace as it was the first place in Thonburi to catch the morning light. The Emerald Buddha was housed here after it was recaptured from Laos, before being moved to Wat Phra Kaeo in 1785. Even without the sacred statue. Wat Arun continued to be much revered, and the kings Rama II and Rama III reconstructed and enlarged it to its present height of 104 metres.
Today, Wat Arun has along, elongated, Khmer-style, Prang, the tower, and four minor towers symbolising Mount Meru, the terrestrial representation of the thirty-three heavens. The Prang are covered with pieces of porcelain, which Chinese boats coming to Bangkok used as ballast.

The main Prang, steep steps lead to the two terraces that form the base of the Prang. The different layers, or heavens are supported by Kinnaree, or half-humans, and frightening Yaksas, or demons. Pavilions on the first platform contain statues of the Buddha at the most important stages of his life, while on the second terrace four statues of the Hindi god Indra or Erawan, his thirty-three headed elephant, stand guard. Most tourists come for the climb and don't have time for the rest of the Wat. The main Buddha image inside the Bot is believed to have been designed by King Rarna II himself, but the murals date from the reign of King Rama V.

Wat Arun is open daily from 08:30 to 17:30 hours. An admission fee of 10 baht is required.

Bus No. 57.
To reach Wat Arun from Bangkok side, take a short-crossing boat from Tha Tien Pier at Tai Wang road.

Wat Traimit
Temple of the Golden Buddha

At the end of Yaowarat Road, near Bangkok Railway Station, there is a temple situated on Traimit Road. This temple is known for its famous Golden Buddha constructed during the Sukhothai period. The image of solid gold is three meters high and weighs five and a half tons.

The building holding this image is open to the public everyday from 09:00 to 17:00 hours.

Bus No. 4, 7, 25, 40, 73.
Air-conditioned Bus No. 1, 7,73

Wat Benchamabophit
The Marble Temple

The Marble Temple is situated on Si Ayutthaya Road near Chitralada Palace. The temple is well-known because its main building was made of marble during the reign of King Rama V. The best time to visit the temple is the early hours in the morning when Buddhist monks are chanting inside the chapel. The interior of the main building is magnificently decorated with exposed wooden beams of lacquer and gold plate. A large collection of Bronze Buddhas is lined up against the walls of the spacious inner courtyard.

The main building is open to vistors until 5.00 pm. There is an admission charge of 10 baht.

Bus No. 70, 72.
Air-conditioned Bus No. 3, 70, 72

Wat Ratchanatdaram

It is a royal temple which was built in the reign of King Rama III in 1846 and is now located on Maha Chai Road. Loha Prasat (Metal Palace), one of its tourist attractions with 37 surrounding spires and a total height of 36 metres, is the only one of its kind existing in the world. Situated in the nearby area are a royal pavilion for a guest reception and the memorial statue of King Rama Ill.

Bus No. 2, 5, 42, 56, 60, 86, 201, 203.
Air-conditioned Bus No. 1,4,7,73

Wat Bowonniwet

The temple, located on Phra Sumen Road in Bang Lamphu area was built in 1826. Wat Bowonniwet is one of the most important temples in Bangkok of which once before ascending the throne the chief abbot was King Rama IV.His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and His Royal Highness Crawn Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, as well as several other males in the royal family, have temporarily ordained as monks here.Bangkok's second Buddhist university is also housed at this temple.
Across the street from the main entrance to the wat are an English-language Buddhist bookshop and a Thai herbal clinic.

Bus No. 15, 56, 68.

Wat Maha That

Founded in the 1700s, Wat Maha That is a national centre for the Maha Nikai monastic sect and houses one of Bangkok’s two Buddhist universities, Maha That Ratchawitthayalai. On weekends, a large produce mark is held on the grounds. Opposite the main entrance on the other side of Maha Rat road is a large religious market selling amulets, or magic charms.
The temple is open to visitors from 09:00 to 17:00 hours everyday and on Wan Phra-Buddhist lent days (the full and new moons every fortnight). Also in the temple grounds is a daily open-air market that features traditional Thai herbal medicine.

The monastery’s International Buddhist Meditation centre offers meditation instruction in English on the second Saturday of every month from 14:00 to 18:00 hours in the Dhamma Vicaya Hall. Those interested in more intensive instruction should contact the monks in section 5 of the temple compound.

Bus No. 53, 59, 70, 80, 201, 203.
Air-conditioned Bus No. 8

Wat Suthat
& The Giant Swing

Wat Suthat is featured as Bangkok’s tallest Wiharn and houses a 14th century Buddha statue from the Sukhothai period, surrounded by rather surreal depictions of the Buddha’s last 24 lives. The courtyard is filled with odded statues of scholars and sailors, brought as ballast in rice boats returning from China, while the doors of the Wat have been carved by King Rama II.

In front of the Temple is the famous Giant Swing.In an annual ceremony to celebrate the rice harvest that was still observed just before World War II, men used to ride on the Giant Swing and try to grab a bag of siver coins attached to a pole; only the teak arch remains.

Many shop surrounding Wat Suthat stock a very comprehensive rage of Buddhist ecclesiastic supplies.

Bus No. 10,12, 35, 42, 56.
Air-conditioned Bus No. 8, 42

Wat Saket
The Golden Mount

Wat Saket is an undistinguished temple except for the Golden Mountain or Phu Khao Thong, on the west side of the grounds. The steep climb tip to the Golden Mountain puts everything back in perspective and offers views over Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it.The resulting mud-and-brick hill was left to sprout weeds until King Rama IV built a small Chedi on its crest.King Rama V later added to the structure and housed a Buddha relic from India in the Chedi. The concrete walls were added during World War II to prevent the hill from eroding.

Every November a large festival, held on the ground of Wat Saket, includes a candle light procession up the Golden Mountain.

Bus No. 8,15,37,47