Wat Suthat Bangkok Thailand

Wat Suthat, better known for the towering red Giant Swing that stands at its entrance, is one of the oldest and most impressive temples in Bangkok. It features an elegant chapel with sweeping roof, magnificent wall murals and exquisite hand-carved teakwood door panels. The temple’s construction was commissioned by King Rama I (1782-1809), to shelter the 13th Century bronze Buddha image transported by boat from Sukhotai, but it was finally completed during King Rama III’s reign (1824-51). Located in the Old City area, just east of the Royal Field, you can easily combine a visit to Wat Suthat with Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Wat Suthat is perhaps more famous for the Giant Swing than its impressive interior architecture, which is a must-see after the splendour of nearby Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. The cloistered courtyard, surrounding the main chapel, boasts 156 Buddha images along the outer walls and four entry gates individually hand-carved with intricate details. The wall frescoes inside the main chapel, detailing the previous 24 incarnations of the Buddha, employed the Western painting technique with perspective science, which is unique to this temple. Lining the outer walls are Chinese stone sculptures and eight-tier hexagonal pagodas, believed to have been shipped as ballast with the Chinese trade junks.

Standing at 21.15 metres, between Wat Suthat and Bangkok City Hall, the Giant Swing’s two towering red pillars and elaborately carved crossbar are unmistakable from afar. After undergoing several renovations, the original Giant Swing, dating from 1784, was replaced in 2004 with a new one crafted entirely from golden teak. The construction of the new swing was a complex process of hand-carving, paint undercoating and coating by master craftsmen and involved numerous parties from civil engineers to the Forestry Department to Brahmin priests.

In the past, during the Brahmin ‘thanksgiving’ ceremony celebrated every year after the main rice harvest in mid-December, young men would ride the swing high in the air, suspended 24 metres from the ground when in full swing, and try to grab a bag of silver coins with their teeth. Some fairly severe injuries and a few deaths led to the dangerous swing ceremony's discontinuation in 1932, but the swing continues to attract both worshippers and tourists alike.

 

Wat Saket (Golden Moutain) Bangkok Thailand

Wat Saket, popularly known as the Golden Mount or ‘Phu Khao Thong’, is a low hill crowned with a gleaming gold chedi. Within, the 58-metre chedi houses a Buddha relic and welcomes worshippers all year round. The temple also hosts an annual temple fair in November, which lasts a week during Loy Krathong. The temple grounds feature mature trees and typical Buddhist structures such as the main chapel, ordination hall and library. Its origins can be traced back to the Ayutthaya period (1350- 1767 AD) and it underwent major renovations during King Rama I’s reign (1782-1809).

Built on an artificial man-made hill, the Golden Mount is the temple’s most well-known landmark and is a sacred pilgrimage site during the weeklong worshipping period in November. To get to the top requires a climb up some 300 steps, which encircle the chedi like a loosely coiled snake. The path is well-paved and the climb relatively easy if you avoid going at midday or during peak summer months. Before beginning the climb, you will find an unusual cemetery built into the base of the Golden Mount. Covered in vines and overgrown trees, it emits a rather spooky out-of-era vibe. Perhaps this is because in the late 18th century, Wat Saket served as the capital's crematorium and the dumping ground for some 60,000 plague victims. Approaching the top of the hill, you will be welcomed by a wall of bells and panoramas of historic Bangkok.

Every year, Wat Saket hosts an enormous temple fair during Loy Krathong, usually in November, following an annual Buddha relic worshipping ceremony. During this period, the golden chedi is draped in massive bright-red cloth, and a candlelit procession up to the top marks the opening of the weeklong fun fair. This is a rare opportunity to experience a large-scale temple fair like how it once was. Coloured lanterns, decorative flags, food vendors as well as fairground games and rides bring the place to life. Crowds of worshippers, families and fair-goers pack the temple grounds from early evening to midnight for the entire week. There’s hardly room to walk. If you go after sunset, the queue up to the Golden Mount can begin as far as Rattanakosin Hotel. So plan to go as early as possible.

Wat Rakang Kositaram Bangkok Thailand

Wat Rakhang Khositaram
(Temple of the Bells), Bangkok

Background
Wat Rakhang Khositaram, formerly known as Wat Bang Wa Yai, is an Ayutthaya period temple.  During the Thon Buri period, the temple was reconstructed and upgraded as a royal temple by King Taksin the Great who ordered the construction of a palace in the area.  The temple then became the residence of the Supreme Patriarch.  Later in the reign of King Rama I the Great, a bell was discovered at Wat Bang Wa Yai.  This bell was moved to Wat Phra Kaeo and five replacement bells were then built.  The temple was named “Wat Rakhang Khositaram or Temple of the Bells” because of this discovery.

Belief
Wat Rakhang Khositaram was a residence of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) who was the Supreme Patriarch in the reign of King Rama IV.  He was very highly respected and had a comprehensive knowledge of Pali and Buddhist teachings as can be seen in his composition of the Phra Khatha Chinabanchon (Jinapanjara) liturgy widely chanted among Thai Buddhists.  There is a belief that worshiping at Wat Rakhang will result in the worshipers becoming popular and have an ever-growing reputation just like the far-reaching sound of ringing bells.  The true concept behind this is that one should concentrate on learning and practice in order to earn fame and to achieve sustainable success.  Unlike the sound of ringing bells that will gradually die away, the knowledge and the virtue will prevail.

Attractions
The Tripitaka Tower or the scripture depository that houses the sacred Tripitaka scriptures is a lavishly decorated building that was once used as a residence and an ordination hall of King Rama I the Great while he was holding his official post in the Than Buri period.  The external walls of the building are painted red.  Inside the wall are murals by the artist Achan Nak depicting the daily life of people in the period.  The carved door panels of the building are beautifully decorated with gilded black lacquer.  The Ubosot or the main hall also houses the presiding Buddha image referred to by King Rama V the Great as “Phra Prathan Yim Rap Fa”.

How to get there
Wat Rakhang Khositaram is located on Arun Arnarin Road, Sirirat Sub-district, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok.  Take bus no. 19. 57 or ferries to the Tha Rot Fai Pier, Wang Lang Pier or hop off at the Tha Chang Pier then take a ferry to cross the river to the Wat Rakhang Pier.  For further details, please contact Tel. 0 2418 1079, 08 2777 8537 or at “www.watrakang.com”

Wat Phra kaew Bangkok Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram) is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located in the historic centre of Bangkok, within the grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the highly revered Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade. The Emerald Buddha (Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn) is a Buddha image in the meditating position in the style of the Lanna school of the north, dating from the 15th century AD.

            Raised high on a series of platforms, no one is allowed near the Emerald Buddha except HM the King. A seasonal cloak, changed three times a year to correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season covers the statue. A very important ritual, the changing of the robes is performed only by the King to bring good fortune to the country during each season. The temple of Emerald Buddha is beautifully decorated and has a great sense of peace about it.

           The construction of the Temple of Emerald Buddha started when King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1785. Unlike other temples, it does not contain living quarters for monks; rather, it has only elaborately decorated holy buildings, statues, and pagodas. The main building is the central 'ubosot' (ordination hall), which houses the Emerald Buddha. Even though it is small in size, it is the most important icon for Thai people. Other attractions in Wat Phra Kaew include a model of Angkor Wat, which was built under the order of King Rama IV when Cambodia was under Siamese control. The model was later recreated in plaster at the behest of King Rama V to celebrate the first centenary of the Royal City. Also, don't miss the Balcony, which can be compared to the temple wall. The murals inside tell the Ramayana epic in its entirety. On the columns of the balcony are stone inscriptions of the verses describing the murals. Each gate of the Balcony is guarded by the five-metre tall 'Yaksa Tavarnbal' (Gate-keeping Giants), the characters taken from the same epic.

A guide is on duty from 10:00 to 14:00 and Personal Audio Guide (PAG) is available in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Russian, and Spanish. Remember that 'wats' (temples) are sacred places and you must dress appropriately. No shorts, slippers, sandals, or revealing tops, otherwise you simply won't be allowed in. There's also a facility that offers proper trouser wear rental should you need it. Admission to the temple is now 400 baht! Remember the temple closes early (15:30) so don't arrive too late!