The Remarkable Wats of Bangkok: Indulge in the history and grace of the Temple

The city of Angles Bangkok is known to be the home of dazzling temples, gleaming palaces, heavenly shopping areas, electric markets, fascinating nightlife, restaurants of every breed and size, and luxurious shopping malls. Serving as the notable and magnificent capital of Thailand; this mesmerizing city is vivid, pulsating, and one of the best cosmopolitan cities of this planet earth. It houses several appealing and tempting attractions. Majority of the tourists declare it to be an excellent destination and they are always ready to grab flights to Bangkok. The breathtaking sites are spread over approximately 1568.7 km².

The Essence of Culture:

The temples or the ‘Wats’ of Bangkok are an integral part of the country’s tourism as well as religion, that completes the heart and soul of the city. A representative of Buddhist traditions, they also sometimes host certain rituals that are vital to the culture and religion. It is essential when visiting Bangkok, to stop at the sites of these jaw-dropping temples that truly speak of the magnificence and brilliance of human power. The glittering decorations, intricate designs, and spell-binding architectures are genuinely astonishing. Millions of stonewares and coloured glass pieces embellished in glowing gold and ornamented with byzantine structures; will leave you in awe.

Regarded as the highly sacred sites by the Buddhists; they have defined respectable manners, how to enter the Wats. Surrounded by monks who wake up early morning to work, the ritual they conduct in their saffron-colored robes is called ‘Tak Baht.’ They collect food and necessities from the people; upon the Buddhist belief that giving makes for a better afterlife.  These temples are an enthralling and fantastic site; offering you the most distinguished and unique experience of your life. Forming a substantial feature of Thailand, the Wats have now become part of almost every tour to Bangkok and parts of the country.

The Most Wondrous of all the Wats

All the Wats, although magnificent; are so many, that they are all impossible to visit. So we have mentioned a few notable temples that will surely make your trip to Bangkok a most wonderful one.

1. Wat Mahathat

Built during the Ayutthaya period, it has the prestige of being one of the ten temples to host royal ceremonies. Wat Mahathat is one of the oldest temples and was built to hold Buddha’s relic. Regarded as the Headquarter for the study of Vipassana meditation and Buddhism in Thailand; it holds high value. Book your cheap flights to Thailand now to visit Wat Mahathat. Upon the temple grounds is also the oldest higher education institute for monks in Thailand; and nearby, is the vast amulet market. People come here to buy special items to ward off evil, get good luck, bring money and fortune, for good health, and love.

2. The Temple of Dawn -Wat Arun:

Also known as Wat Chaeng, it is situated on the west bank of the River Chao Phraya. The beauty and the fine craftsmanship have made it one of the most outstanding and exceptional temples of Thailand. A marvel of Chinese ceramic work, its spire is almost 70 metre’s high; it is most beautiful at sunset.  Sculptures of Chinese soldiers and animals adorn the base of the tower. You can climb the steep steps and get to the top, to view the Grand Palace. Also, it is located directly opposite Wat Pho, so you can take a riverboat or shuttle boat across the river to get here.

3. The Emerald Buddha temple – Wat Phra Kaew:

Also known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram is located within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The Buddha itself has been painstakingly carved out from only a single block of jade. He sits in a meditating position dating back to the 15^th century. The robe changing ritual is performed during each season by the King for bringing good fate to the country. No one except the King is allowed to touch the towering statue. The temple consists of elaborate carved models and pagodas, but no living quarters for monks. It also hosts a model of Angkor Wat, made at the behest of King Rama V.

4. Temple of Reclining Buddha – Wat Pho:

The largest temple of Bangkok located behind the marvellous temple of Emerald Buddha. It is famous for its majestic lying Buddha which has the length of 46 metres and is covered with gold leaf all over. Only a ten-minute walk from the Grand Palace, it also offers a traditional, professional Thai massage facility. The giant Buddha is squeezed into the building; with its feet 5 meters long and embellished with mother of pearl illustrations; it is perfection. Take your shoes off and drop a penny when you enter; maybe your wishes will come true, who knows? The gorgeous murals around the walls of the temple will require you a translator to understand; luckily the guides there speak English quite well.

5. Temple of the Golden Mount – Wat Saket :

Also known as the Phu Khao Thong, it is a hill crowned with gold Buddhist Stupa and is located in the compound of Wat Saket. The first attempt of its construction had failed, during the reign of King Rama III, because the ground was soft and could not hold. Built on the remains of the original one, it was completed during the time of King Rama IV and V. Climbing up to the top through 318 steps, you can have the fantastic panoramic views of Bangkok. Reaching the top, you will see a wall of bells. The Wat Saket also hosts an annual temple fair in November, after which a Buddha worshipping ceremony is held. The Chedi is wrapped in a red cloth, and a candlelit procession makes its way up the stairs. The ending of the celebration is the signaling of the fair officially opening for a week.  Jam-packed with families and tourists; food stalls, flags, games, and lanterns can be seen everywhere. It gets very crowded with visitors; so book your flight to Bangkok as early as possible.

Other Amazing Temples:

A few significant mentions include: Wat Traimit; a solid gold Buddha sits high in a gigantic white and gold structure, Wat Suhat; giant red swing and magnificent hand-carved wood panels, Wat Benja; the marble temple embossed on the back of Baht coins. Also mentionable is Wat Prayoon; a temple with an inverted bell-shaped pagoda and a pond for turtle feeding. There are over 400 Wats in Bangkok, but which one to see and experience for yourself is entirely up to you.

You must head towards these temples, during the daytime when the area does not bustle with the large groups of people and the weather is pleasant also. It’s a general rule of thumb to cover your shoulders, knees, and ankles when visiting the temples. The majesty of Bangkok is only enhanced with these colossal glimmering structures. So this time, whenever you plan a trip to Bangkok, don’t miss the chance to visit these terrific temples.