Wat Saket Bangkok, more officially Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, is a Buddhist temple in Rattanakosin, not far from the famous Khao San Road. The famous Golden Mount is easily visible from a distance.
The golden mount we see today is built on the remains of a previous unsuccessful attempt to create a massive chedi on the soft grounds of the temple. The remains of this collapsed chedi formed the artificial hill on which the Golden Mount is standing today. The construction started under the reign of Rama IV (1804-1868) and was only completed during the reign of Rama V (1853-1910) at the end of the 19th century. A relic of the Buddha brought from India was placed inside the chedi, and a concrete wall was added later to consolidate the hill.
To reach the 58-metre gleaming dome, you will enter the temple ground by one of the doors, probably the largest one on Boriphat road and walk around the hill until you reach a nicely paved red staircase coiled around the hill. Three hundred eighteen easy steps will take you to the top into the base of the chedi, where people pay respect to several golden sitting Buddhas.
But of course, almost everyone wants to reach the top and see that glorious golden monument. You wonโt be able or allowed to touch it as it is protected by a rail and wouldnโt be appropriate anyway. The view from up there is beautiful without being amazing, and no real landmark or river visible, just a sea of roofs, trees and the cityscape in the far. On the way down, donโt miss another immense golden Buddha sitting in a large glass room.
Every year, during the famous Loy Kratong festival in November, Wat Saket hosts a temple fair, including a candlelight procession ceremony up the stairs of the Golden Mount. Expect serious traffic jams.
Suppose you are interested in unusual off-the-beaten-track exploration. In that case, you are not far from the unique Baan Bat, the last Bangkok community hammering out the alms bowls used by Buddhist monks by the monks receiving food offerings early morning. The temple is open all day, but the door to the Golden Mount is only open between 7.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Wat Saket Info
Location: Rattanakosin
Address: 344 Thanon Chakkraphatdi Phong, Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100 Open: 8 am โ 5 pm Phone: 065 010 3131 Dress Code: No short skirts or short pants, no sleeveless T-shirts Price: Free
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Willy Thuan is the founder of Phuket 101. After travelling through 40+ countries and working with Club Med and Expedia, he settled in Phuket in 1994. He shares real travel insights and original photography from across Thailand.View Author posts
