A trip to Thailand may not be complete if you don’t visit some temples. Because 95% of the Thai population is Buddhist, there are many options for the temples to know. Bangkok alone has more than 400 temples – or “wat,” as they call it in Thai. A few of them are quite small and located away from the main visitor areas. Others are massive, a component of whole complexes, richly decorated and which you can easily find in travel guides. Since you probably won’t have much time to visit them all, we have created a list of 4 main temples of Bangkok, based on importance, beauty, and cultural importance. Choose which one to visit, and have a great trip!
Great Palace
It is the most famous and significant Temple in Bangkok. It was built in 1792 and had wonderful structures. The Royal Family no longer lives there, but the place is still popular with Thai people – and also with tourists. Even though the palace is imposing and grand, the most significant picture of the Buddha fails to be noticeable for its size – viewed from a distance, it is relatively tiny. To arrive the Great Palace, take the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin station. From that point, go ahead and take a ferry (Chao Phraya River Express boat) to Chang pier. Take a short walk to the Grand Palace. For foreign tourists A ticket price is $16.
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is a sacred and particularly highly regarded place for the Thai, the most crucial and residential Temple for the most precious relic of the Kingdom of Thailand. Located perfectly in the heart of the historic city of Bangkok, the iconic building houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha, considered to be revered and very useful to the royal dynasty that rules the country. Compared to other shrines in Southeast Asia, the Mahamuni Buddha in Myanmar does not differ in exceptional size. Still, every citizen of Thailand considers himself happy to bow to him. Wat Phra Kaew is amazingly stunning, and in its area, there are many exciting places that everyone should see during an excursion to the sights of Bangkok.
The Temple belongs to a giant complex that contains the Royal Palace. The Emerald Buddha is a compact statue that stands at a substantial distance from the audience. Thai citizens are allowed to approach the statue closer than visitors. Absolutely no photography of the statue is allowed and law enforcement officers watch the public. Many pilgrims and guests gather three times a year to witness the ceremony of dressing the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew. During the hot season, he wears the clothes of the kings of Ayutthaya. During the rainy season, Buddha looks like a monk. And the winter, together with the cold, decorate the shoulders of Buddha with a wrap of precious metal. The entrance fee of Wat Phra Kaew is $16 for international visitors and free for Thai.
Temple of the Golden Buddha
The Golden Buddha statue is considered to date back more than 700 years to the kingdom of Sukhothai. This is similar to several other valuable Buddha images from that period; until 1955, it was covered with plaster to hide it from invading enemies. It is believed to be the largest pure gold Buddha image globally, weighing 5.5 tons. It is 12’5″ in diameter and 15’9″ high. Non-Thai visitors must purchase a ticket for $1.30 to go to the Temple.
Wat Arun
In Tibetan Buddhist myth, Wat Arun is an architectural depiction of the sacred Mount Meru and believed to represent the center of the universe. Throughout the Temple, there is a lot of Buddhist symbolism to be found. Regardless of its extended history, the Buddhist Temple did not progress to the brilliant destination it is today until the early 19th century when King Rama II renovated the Temple and expanded the pagoda to reach 70 meters in height. You have to take a ferry here, and that will only set you back a few dollars one way. There are many hiking trails, and the location is great; therefore, bring hiking shoes and a camera because it is possible to get some nice pictures here.
Dress Code
Like other sacred places around the world, you also need to follow a specific dress code to enter Bangkok. Cover your feet and shoulders. There is a stall outside each Temple where you can rent sarongs if you are not properly outfitted. Sarong rental costs 20 baht per piece. In addition, you will have to pay a deposit of 100 baht, which will be returned when you return your sarong. Make sure you don’t lose the deposit receipt they give you!