A
day or two would be enough if you want to gallivant around Bangkok to see its
most famous temples. Temples or, wat in Thai, are places of worship or,
at times, places of burial for nobilities and aristocrats. As for me, there were sudden changes in my
itinerary, especially that unknowingly I arrived in Bangkok in the midst of
King Vajiralongkorn’s coronation. Most of the temples were temporary closed to be in
consonance with the coronation and procession rites. The upside of this though
was learning more about the culture as veneration filled the whole city with
people donned in yellow clothes and establishments along the procession’s route
painted with hues of yellow (Yellow is the color of the monarch).
The
month of May falls on the hot season, so make your umbrellas, hats, and water
bottles come in handy. However, most of the famous temples are located in the
Phra Nakhon District, making them a few walks or a short taxi/ferry ride from
each other. One should also adhere to
dress codes. Short pants, mini-skirts and tank tops are not allowed inside the
precincts of the temples.
Wat Benchamabopit
Location:
69 Thanon Si Ayutthaya, Khwaeng Dusit, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300, Thailand; Operating
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Fee:
20 THB
The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a complex that houses different temples and
buildings apposite to the Thai monarchy. Though the newly crowned king now officially
resides at the Dusit Palace, special ceremonies and state functions still take place in the premises of the palace. The complex is also home to the Emerald
Buddha which is enshrined at Wat Phra Kaew. Other structures that can be found
are arrayed in a harmonious display of Thai oriental structures and European
contemporary elements. On another note, if you want to avoid the large crowd
and the sweltering heat of the sun, coming in early is the key!
Location:
Na Phra Lan Road, Grand Palace, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok 10200, Thailand; Operating
Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Fee:
500 THB
Wat Pho
Just
a few walks from The Grand Palace is the home of one of the biggest Reclining
Buddhas in Thailand. The 46cm-long statue symbolizes calmness and comfort as is
manifested by the entirety of the Buddha’s position. At the feet of the Buddha
are inscriptions which are said to be auspicious. Along the halls, 108 bowls
can be found, representing the 108 auspicious characters of the Buddha.
Dropping coins in the bowls is believed to bring good fortune. Outside the
chapel, stupas, plated with vibrant ceramics, can be found erected on the
temple grounds. In Thai culture, cremated remains of the dead can be scattered
to a body of water or can be enshrined in a stupa, especially when the dead was
a noble or an aristocrat. Wat Pho is also coined as the birthplace of Thai
massage.
Location:
2 Sanam Chai Rd, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok
10200, Thailand; Operating
Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Fee:
100 THB
Wat Arun
Among
the most photographed temples in Thailand is Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn.
The temple can be conveniently reached through the Tha Tien Pier, a few meters
of walk from Wat Pho. One-way ticket costs 2 THB. The predominating structure
of the temple is the 86m-tall tower which is ornated with mosaicked seashells
and Chinese porcelains, often a distinguishing feature among other temples in
Thailand which are usually embellished by gilded elements.
Location:
158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai District, Bangkok 10600,
Thailand; Operating
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Fee:
50 THB
Visiting Bangkok is like getting a beginner’s course to Thai culture and society. Temples bespeak the Thai people’s reverence for their country and its icons, their piety towards spiritual well-being, and their creativity and industriousness which perfectly blend the value of heritage preservation whilst accommodating the nascent and inescapable modernity. Indeed, one’s trip to Thailand is never complete without taking a halt and being enthralled by these man-made wonders.
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