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Wat
Pho |
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Wat
Pho is famous
for its huge
Reclining Buddha
and is the
oldest temple
in Bangkok.
It dates from
the sixteenth
century, but
was completely
rebuilt in
1781 by King Rama 1. It is
also the largest
temple in the
city. The Reclining
Buddha is on
a pedestal
and is 46 metres
long and 15
metres high,
the largest
Reclining Buddha
in Thailand.
He is covered
in gold leaf
and features
mother-of-pearl
inlaid soles
to his feet.
One can approach
this Buddha
closely, in
fact so closely
that taking
his photograph
is difficult
because of
his size. Wat
Pho is also
the centre
for Thai traditional
massage. One
can obtain
a massage here or learn
massage techniques.
From
Khao San Road,
Wat Pho is
within walking
distance. From
Sukhumvit Road,
take bus no.
25 or 48, or
air-conditioned
no. 8. From
Hualampong
Station, take
bus no. 1,
25 or 53. (02 222 0933)
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Wat
Benjamabophit (Marble Temple) |
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Wat
Benjamabophit
is often known
as the Marble
Temple. This
beautiful piece
of architecture
is near Wiman
Mek Palace.
It is a relatively
modern building
constructed
a century ago
in white Carrana
marble under
the direction
of King Chulalongkorn.
The inside of the Wat has cross beams of lacquer and gold. Wat Benjamabophit is located on Si Ayutthaya Road.
The
following buses
pass close
by: 9, 12,
18, 28, 56,
70, 72, 108
and 110, and
air-conditioned
buses 3, 9,
10 and 16.
From Khao San
Road take a
9, 12, 56 or
70. From Sukhumvit
Road, take
no. 2, or air-conditioned
no. 11, and
alight immediately
after crossing
the railway
tracks, from
where it is
about 20 minutes
walk. If that
is too far,
continue to
the Democracy
Monument and
change to a
9, 12, 56 or
70. From Hualampong
Station, take
a no. 53 to
its terminus,
from where
it is about
10 minutes
walk.
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Wat
Saket (Golden Mountain) |
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Wat
Saket is also
known as the
Temple of the
Golden Mount.
During the
time of King
Rama III, a
chedi (pagoda)
which was being
built collapsed
due to the
soft nature
of the earth.
The pile of
rubble was
left for many
years, but
then King Rama
IV ordered
the construction
of a small
chedi on top.
King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) enlarged
the chedi and
then the base
was concreted
this century.
Now one can
climb the steep
steps to the
top and obtain
a good view
of the city.
One can climb
to the top
free, but to
go inside one
is invited
to make a contribution. Ring the bells as you go! In
November there
is a candle-lit
procession
up the steps. Located off Worachak Road.
From
Khao San Road,
again this
is easy walking
distance. From
Sukhumvit Road,
bus no. 2,
or air-conditioned
no. 11. From
Hualampong
Station, bus
no. 35 (walk
across the
canal to catch
it).
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Wat
Arun (Temple of Dawn) |
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Known
as the Temple
of the Dawn,
Wat Arun is
an impressive
temple to view
from a distance.
It is on the ‘wrong’ side
of the river,
i.e. the Thonburi
side, and is
a seventeenth
century temple
named after
Aruna, the
Indian God
of the Dawn.
Originally known as Wat Chaeng and renovated started during the reign of King Rama 11 and complted in the reign of King Rama 1V. King Taksin
made it a royal
temple when
Thonburi was
the capital
of the country,
because it
was the first
temple to catch
the rays of
the rising
sun. The Emerald
Buddha was
housed here
at one time.
The main Khmer-style prang (steeple)
is 104 metres
high and the
terraces at
its base can
be climbed
by means of
steep steps.
It is covered
with porcelain
previously
used as ballast
by ships visiting
from China. Located across the river from Tha Thien Pier.
Buses
no. 19, 40,
56, 57, 83
and 149 pass
near by. From
Khao San Road,
take bus no.
56, or take
an express
boat from Phra
Arthit pier
to Tha Tien
(or walk there)
and then a
ferry across
the river to
the temple.
From Sukhumvit
Road, take
a bus no. 40
to near the
temple, or
bus no. 25
or air-conditioned
no. 8 to Tha
Tien (which
is the terminus
for those two
buses) and
then a ferry.
From Hualampong
Station, take
a bus no. 40
to near the
temple, or
bus no. 25
or 53 to Tha
Tien and then
a ferry.
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Wat
Suthat |
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Wat
Suthat is just
a short walk
south of the
Democracy Monument
and is known
for the Giant
Swing outside.
The swing was
formerly used
in a harvest
festival competition
when people
would swing
from it and
try to reach
a bag of coins
on a pole,
but now only
the frame sits
outside the
temple. The red swing is 21.2 metres tall and used for Brahmanic ritual such as teh Triyampawai Ceremony' or teh SWinging Ceremony to honour the highest God Shiva, a practice discontinued in 1935. Inside
the temple,
there is a
fourteenth
century Buddha
statue. And the small lucky Buddha. Located on Bamrung Muang Road.
From
Khao San Road,
once more this
is walking
distance. From
Sukhumvit Road,
bus no. 2,
or air-conditioned
no. 8 or 11.
From Hualampong
Station, bus
no. 35 (walk
across the
canal to catch
it) to its
terminus.
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Wat
Traimit |
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Wat
Traimit is
the relatively
small temple,
near Hualampong
Station and
just on the
edge of Chinatown,
which houses
the Golden
Buddha. But
for an accident,
it might never
have become
famous. In
1952, a plaster
Buddha was
being moved
to the temple
by crane when
the rope slipped
and the statue
was dropped.
The plaster
broke and a
metal statue
underneath
was revealed.
When the plaster
was peeled
off, a beautifully
formed solid
gold Buddha
was found inside.
It appears
to date from
the fourteenth
century and
weighs over
five tons.
It was probably
concealed in
the plaster
to prevent
the Burmese
from stealing
it during one
of their invasions.
The glow of
the solid gold
is unforgettable. Located near Hualamphong Station on Traimitr Road.
From
Khao San Road,
take bus no.
35 to its terminus,
then walk to
the front bus
in the line
and take no.
35 again to
Hualampong
Station. From
Sukhumvit Road,
take a bus
no. 25 or 40
or air-conditioned
no. 1.
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Wat
Ratchanatdaram |
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Opposite
Wat Saket is
Wat Ratchanatdaram,
built in 1846.
It features
unusual Burmese-influenced
architecture
consisting
of a central
spire 36 metres
high with 37
surrounding
lesser spires.
It is also
well known
for its market
of Buddhist
amulets.
Buses
2, 5, 35, 39,
44, 56, 59,
60, 70, 79
and 201, and
air-conditioned
3, 9, 11, 12
and 44 pass
right outside
and many others
go near by.
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Wat
Bowon Niwet |
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Just
round the corner
from Khao San
Road, Wat Bowon
Niwet's claim
to fame is
that many of
the royal family
enter the monastery
for a while
to serve as
monks. The
present King
did so, for
example. Although
the temple
was not founded
until 1829,
it houses an
impressive
Buddha statue
dating from
1357. It also
operates a
Buddhist university
(Mahamakut
University),
one of the
two in Bangkok
(Wat Mahathat
houses the
other). Because
of the temple's
proximity to
Khao San Road,
no doubt, there
is also an
English language
Buddhist bookshop
across the
street, and
a Thai herbal
medicine clinic.
Bus
56 and air-conditioned
11 go right
past the gate,
but any of
those listed
above for Wat
Ratchanatdaram
pass close.
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Wat
Mahathat |
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Just
to the west
of Sanam Luang,
Wat Mahathat
is an eighteenth
century temple
which features
a fruit and
vegetable market
at weekends,
a religious
market of amulets
just outside
the grounds
every day,
and an impressive
collection
of pigeons.
It also houses
a Buddhist
university
(Mahathat Rajavidyalaya
University)
and offers
Buddhist meditation
instruction
in English
once per month,
on the second
Saturday. Located on Na Phrathat Road.
Buses
2, 3, 6, 9,
15, 19, 30,
31, 32, 33,
39, 42, 43,
44, 47, 51,
53, 56, 59,
60, 64, 69,
70, 79, 80,
90, 91, 103,
201 and 203,
and air-conditioned
3, 7, 9 and
11, but from
Khao San Road
it is easy
walking distance.
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Wat
Ratchabophit |
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This
temple is near
Wat Pho and
was constructed
in 1869 by
King Chulalongkorn.
It offers some
elaborate and
unusual architecture,
with European
influence,
a trait of
that monarch.
Especially
notable is
the mother-of-pearl
decoration
around the
windows and
doors.
Buses
1, 25 and 48
and air-conditioned
1, 7 and 8.
Many others
pass near by.
Just
across the
canal from
Wat Ratchabophit,
this temple
was established
by King Rama
IV and is known
for its murals
depicting the
annual ceremonies
performed by
the monarch.
Buses
1, 25 and 48
and air-conditioned
1, 7 and 8.
Many others
pass near by.
This
is a mid nineteenth
century temple
on the Thonburi
side of the
river. It was
built by King
Rama III. It
contains a
particularly
large Buddha
statue and
some fine murals.
Outside is
the biggest
bronze bell
in Thailand
and an old
Chinese stone
pagoda.
Buses
4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 10, 12,
21, 25, 37,
52, 60, 73,
82 and 85,
and air-conditioned
1, 6, 7, 8
and 12 to Pak
Klong Talad
Pier and then
a ferry across
the river to
the temple.
Alternatively,
an express
boat to Rajini
and then ferry
across the
river.
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Wat
Indra Wihan |
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This
is another
temple in the
vicinity of
Khao San Road.
It is famous
for its huge
standing Buddha,
32 metres tall.
Buses
3, 6, 10, 12,
19, 30, 31,
32, 33, 43,
49, 53, 64
and 90, and
air-conditioned
6.
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Maha
Uma Devi
Temple |
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Maha
Uma Devi is
a Hindu temple,
built in the 1860s.
As usual with
such temples,
it has an elaborately
carved façade,
featuring hundreds
of Hindu gods. The facade has Hindu deities and inside a number of statues. Located on Silom Road.
Buses
15, 16, 17,
76, 77 and
115, and air-conditioned
2, 4 and 5,
or Sky Train
to Surasak
(S5).
Built in 1879 and devoted to the Hindu Goddess Uma Dhevi.
The Dragon Temple is a Chinese temnple located on Charoen Krung Road and built in 1871.
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