Top 7 Must-Visit Temples in Bangkok; Essence of Thailand

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia. This Buddhist-majority country is home to various temples or wat. Some are still functional for worship while others are turned into tourist attractions for their diverse architectural styles.

Thailand’s capital Bangkok has some of the most popular temples in the country. Tourists can get a glimpse of the essence and soul of Thai spirituality by visiting the temples in Bangkok.

Access to temples in Bangkok is relatively easy using public transportation such as tuk-tuk, taxi, BTS (Sky Train), MRT (Subway), and river taxis. The Bangkok Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport allows connectivity with the MRT Blue Line and the BTS Sukhumvit Line.

Here are the most famous and must-visit temples in Bangkok, citing Travel + Leisure :

1. Wat Phra Kaew

This temple is considered the most sacred in Bangkok and is also known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. Located within the Grand Palace grounds, this temple houses a Buddha figure made from a single piece of jade, and decorated with diamonds and gold ornaments. The statue was brought in originally from Chiang Rai in 1464. 

2. Wat Pho

Wat Pho Temple, the oldest temple in Bangkok, is located on Rattanakosin Island. This temple is well-known because it has the largest collection of Buddha statues and sculptures in Thailand. The iconic 46-meter-long gold-plated reclining Buddha attracts thousands of tourists every day. It also has illustrated plaques explaining various subjects, including Yoga, history, lexicography, literature, Buddhism, proverbs, customs, health, and medicine.

3. Wat Arun

Another renowned temple in Bangkok is Wat Arun, located in Thonburi, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The temple is a work of art, with gorgeous sculptures, vibrant colors, tiny pieces of Chinese ceramics, shiny porcelain figurines, and a towering spire marking the temple. After basking in its beauty, try taking a water taxi from Tha Tien Pier, exploring the Museum of Siam, and visiting the Bangkok National Museum. 

4. Wat Benchamabophit

Wat Benchamabophit is one of Thailand's most revered temples and is often called the Marble Temple. The building, whose image adorns the 5 baht coin, is also considered a masterpiece of Thai architecture. Made of Italian Carrera marble, the temple's interior features crossbeams of gold and lacquer, with walls displaying paintings of stupas from all over Thailand. Inside, there are 52 Buddha statues in the assembly hall, and the ashes of King Rama V are buried beneath a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue. 

5. Wat Saket

Wat Saket or the Golden Mount is also one of the most popular and oldest temples in Thailand. This temple has a unique man-made hilltop vantage point. Tourists come to this temple not only for religious purposes but also to enjoy the stunning views of Bangkok.

6. Wat Traimit

Wat Traimit looks unassuming from the outside. However, this temple has one of the largest solid gold Buddha statues in the world, making it a popular tourist spot in Bangkok. The statue was discovered in the 1950s, when workers were dismantling what they thought was a plaster Buddha statue. It turned out to be a 13th-century Buddharupa Sikap Maravijaya statue made of pure gold, weighing about 5.5 tons. 

7. Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen

If you travel to Bangkok, another must-visit temple is Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen. Inside this temple is the largest Buddha statue in Bangkok. In addition to the 92-meter-high statue, this temple houses an 8-meter-high glass stupa, a museum, Budha images, a mediation hall, and much more.

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