Joanna James
Bangkok offers an array of religious attractions that will draw the interest of the sightseer. These include a host of interesting temples like Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Traimit, Wat Saket and the Thao Mahaprom Shrine.
The splendid Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, with its evocative and grand design, will be a great choice to commence your tour of Bangkok's religious sites. This magnificent Buddhist shrine was initially established during the 1600s, yet only gained its unmistakeable spires at the time of rule of the monarch Rama II during the early part of the 19th century. A majestic temple, Wat Arun is considered to be a triumph of religious architectural design in Thailand. This temple also houses some esteemed artefacts that are related to the royal and religious history of the Thai nation.
The well-known Wat Pho is considered to rank amongst Thailand's major Buddhist places of worship. This temple is renowned for its mammoth Buddha statue that measures no less than 46 m in length. Here you will also have the opportunity to admire the numerous buildings in the temple compound which display richly intricate designs reflecting a history that stretches as far back as the 16th century. This temple is considered to be a vital part of Bangkok's, and indeed the Thai nation's, spiritual and also architectural legacy.
The greatly venerated Wat Phra Kaew is considered to be Thailand's most sacred temple. Situated in the Grand Palace compound, this temple contains the statue known as the Emerald Buddha which is considered to be a priceless sacred object. This statue has been carved out of semiprecious stone and has a gold covering. You will see that the temple buildings, various murals and sculptures match the spiritual and regal ambience of the chamber that houses the Emerald Buddha.
At this well-known temple you will have the opportunity to admire the gracefully sculpted majesty of the biggest golden Buddha statue in the seated position to be found in the world. A good number of the gold statues in Asia were at one time covered in stucco and plaster in order to conceal them from hostile armies in times of war. The golden Buddha at this temple was one of these, having been discovered accidentally when the concealing casing was cracked. A choice of accommodation to consider from which this temple could be conveniently visited would be Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort which may be regarded as one of the pleasantly located Bangkok resorts.
Your tour of Bangkok's temples would not be complete without visiting Wat Saket, which is a temple compound that is located on a hilltop. You will see that the golden chedi of this temple is a prominent feature that creates a striking silhouette when viewed by the observer. As you will have to climb as many as 300 stairs in order to reach the temple, it would be advisable not to visit this attraction during the day's hottest hours.
The Erawan Shrine or Thao Mahaprom, is a Hindu place of worship that is rather small in size, yet attracts numerous visitors. If you visit this shrine you will have the opportunity to observe the devotees as they light incense and offer flowers or fruits to the deity. You will also have the chance to see traditional dancing performances that are funded by those who have made entreaties to the shrine. The focal point of the shrine is the gold image of Phra Phrom, who is the Thai deity corresponding to the Hindu creator god Brahma.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
