A wat is to a Buddhist as a mosque is to a Muslim as a church is to a Southern Baptist. While Bangkok does not have the largest concentration of wats in SE Asia, Ankor Wat in Cambodia takes that prize, it does have more than it’s fair share and many are huge, I mean immense, enormous, colossal, massive, mammoth, vast, prodigious structures that leap into the Bangkok skies.
Wats are super examples of local religious beliefs, Thailand classifies a wat as a sacred area housing monks and an large structure displaying a Buddha. Bangkok wat‘s have Buddha in just about every position imaginable; standing, lying, sitting, waving his hand, and my favorite lounging or as the Thai’s refer to it, reclining. The wats are also great places to see ancient Siamese architecture and design and some of the edifices are truly spectacular in size and adornments.
Which Bangkok Wat should I start?
Bangkok has more wats than you can shake a stick at but which ones are the ‘must sees‘? Here are the top 5 wats any visitor to Bangkok should see in no particular order.
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha) Why this wat? Maybe because its the most sacred in all of Thailand and is in the grounds of the Grand Palace?
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) Why this wat? Maybe because the views form the top are insane and the materials used to build this temple look like broken pieces of pottery?
- Wat Mahathat Why this wat? Maybe because the wat has hundreds of sitting Buddhas against a striking red wall and is a great photo opp?
- Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) Why this wat? Maybe because the reclining golden Buddha is the size of the jolly green giant?
- Wat Traimit (Temple of Golden Buddha) Why this wat? Maybe because there is a gold plated sitting Buddha?
Notable Mentions
- Wat Sutat (Great Swing) Why this wat? Maybe because of the giant red swing and the history of what’s its purpose was for?
- Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) Why this wat? Maybe because of the white Italian marble everywhere?
- Wat Intharawihan Why this wat? Maybe the 32 meter high standing Buddha will pique your curiosity?
Enjoy some close up an personal wat photos.
Wat Pho- Home of the Great Reclining Buddha
Wat Traimit- Home of the Great Golden Sitting Buddha
The Great Golden Sitting Buddha
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Mahathat
Wat Arun- amazing views of the river
Wat Arun- bits of smashed up pottery everywhere
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[...] A Wat or two, or three- Bangkok has so many temples to keep you busy, you won’t be disappointed. Recommendations is Wat Arun as you can climb up and see much of Bangkok in the horizon. Statues from nearby Wat Pho [...]
[...] Bangkok- No one should come to Thailand w/o staying a couple days in this famous city of sin and Thai culture. Thailand is a cause célèbre for it’s loose scruples when it comes to the sexy sex and no more is this apparent in Bangkok near Soi Cowboy, a very famous avenue for ping pong shows and other artistic displays of pre-coitus. Other notable sites in Bangkok include the King’s Palace and the Arun temple. [...]