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Updated by Joanna James on Mar 16, 2024
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Joanna James Joanna James
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Bangkok temples: 7 of the best Wats for tourists

Bangkok has so many beautiful and ornate temples that it can get overwhelming which ones to visit. Here are some of the best you should consider visiting while in the city.

1

Wat Pho

This is where you will find the largest reclining statue of the Buddha in Thailand. It is 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height. The statue of the Buddha is plastered in gold leaf, and the hall is enlivened with vivid paintings and a line of 108 bronze bowls.
Wat Pho is one of the oldest temples in Thailand and was founded before the city became a capital. The temple grounds cover an extent of 80,000 square meters, with several stupas (chedis) containing sacred relics. You will also find chanting halls, pergolas, formal gardens, and life-size stone statues safeguarding the gates of the temple.

2

Wat Benchamabophit

Also known as the marble temple as it is constructed out of Italian marble! Like Wat Pho, it is a tourist favourite and can get crowded most days.
The temple is embellished to equal the ornamented design style of King Chulalongkorn's palace close by. The temple is a remarkable blend of high gables, a marbled courtyard, with details in gold and lacquer adorned on the walls and ceilings. The 52 images of the Buddha that surround the assembly hall is what is perhaps the highlight of the temple. Each statue rests in a distinct mudra (pose), displaying hand and body postures unique to a Buddha.

3

Wat Saket

The temple is located on an 80-meter-tall hill in the centre of Bangkok. It can be reached by ascending 300 steps. From the ground, the most noticeable portion of the temple is a large golden stupa that enshrines relics of the Buddha.
Two festivals are held each year within the premises. One is the Loi Krathong festival, where devotees free hundreds of small boats formed out of banana leaves. A candle is placed within and is freed into the river to honour the river gods.

4

Wat Traimit

Located in Bangkok's Chinatown, this small temple is a big draw: particularly for the 5,500-kilogram pure gold statue of the seated Buddha. It is valued at over $250 million and measures three meters in height, and dates to the Sukhothai Dynasty of the 13th century.
There is an interesting history behind the statue, and those who want to know more can visit the museum housed within the temple. It provides all the details with visuals, photos and presentations.

5

Wat Suwannaram

This temple first started as Wat Thong and became an execution ground during the Burmese war. It later became a crematorium for the royal family. King Rama, I directed its renovation in the 18th century.
The hallmarks are the golden Buddha and the red murals that decorate the walls and ceilings. The temple grounds are beautiful too, with a pond that has a little library in the middle.

6

Wat Mahathat

Found outside of Bangkok, in the old town of Ayutthaya, is an ideal day trip from the capital.
The temple is in a prime location in the 290-hectare archaeological park built in the 14th century. The main 'prang' or tower fell centuries ago, a few remain and these are meant to hold the Buddha's relics.
The temple draws many visitors to see the ethereal sculpture of the Buddha's head. It is buried into a tree trunk and encircled by roots.

7

Wat Prayoo

Found just footsteps away from the Chao Praya River, it is a small white temple enclosed by gardens, a pond of turtles, and several splendidly decorated raisings. It includes a wiharn (chapel) and an ordination hall decorated in colourful inlays.
The most prominent construction here is the 80 meters tall Ayutthaya-style white chedi that holds the Buddha's relics.
Try a Bangkok hotel, 5-star luxury accommodations such as Pathumwan Princess Hotel are easy to find.