An introduction to Bangkok's Temples

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha located in the same compound in the very heart of Bangkok are the most frequently visited by foreign tourists and local people alike. The Grand Palace is famous for its impressive buildings. Wat Pra Kheo is renowned as the most beautiful and important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It houses Pra Kheo Morakot, the most highly revered Buddha image carved from a single block of fine jade. It is richly and intricately decorated that, once entering the temple, visitors will feel as if they were in a real "City of Angels".
Open daily from 8.30 to 15.30

Wat Suthat

Wat Chetuphon (Wat Pho)

The temple was founded in the 16th century and is the oldest and biggest temple with the largest number of pagodas (95 in all) in the city. Wat Pho was the first open university in Thailand which used to offer courses in several branches of knowledge like literature, archaeology, astrology and medicine. It is well known for its huge Reclining Buddha which is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)

The temple is attractive in its striking prangs (a kind of pagoda) which are decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain. Its central prang, at a height of a 20-storey building, is the tallest prank of Thailand where a good view of the nearby surroundings can be obtained.

Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)

This temple is one of the most modern works of Thai religious architecture. Graceful and tranquil, it is famous for its main chapel built in white Carara Italian marble to house a replica of Thailand's most beautiful Buddha image, Phra Phutthachinarat.

Wat Chetuphon

inside

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Wat Traimit

This temple houses the world's biggest gold Buddha image, presumably 700 or 800 years old.

Wat Suthat

This temple is a good place to see the blend of Thai and Chinese art, the style which flourished in the reign of King Rama III (1834 - 1851).