# 7 Best Temples to Visit in Bangkok > We've gathered the 7 top temples in Bangkok out of the city's hundreds of wats. Find out which shrines to start with as you get to know Thailand's Buddhist capital. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/7-naykrashchykh-khramiv-v-banhkoku/ - Language: en - Published: 2023-11-04 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Leisure, Museums, Tours, Thailand --- Since Thailand is 95% Buddhist, Bangkok is naturally home to hundreds of temples, known in Thai as "wats". Some of them are small, tucked far away down tiny lanes and off the tourist trail. Others are part of vast complexes packed with halls, schools and revered statues, which earns them a rightful place in every Bangkok guidebook. Here are the seven best temples in Bangkok, a list put together with both historical importance and pure aesthetics in mind. Don't forget to dress appropriately (legs and shoulders must be covered), or you may not be allowed inside: ## 1. Wat Arun ![Wat Arun temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-1-Wat-Arun-1024x681.jpg) You know a Bangkok temple is special when its image appears on Thai currency, in this case the 10 baht coin. Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok's most revered icons and sits on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River. Construction of the magnificent spires (phra prang), covered in tiny pieces of multicolored Chinese ceramics, was begun by King Rama II (1809-1824) and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). While the Phra Prang of Wat Arun is the biggest landmark, it's actually just a small part of the complex, which also holds beautiful white buildings, shrines, ponds and tiny lanes. From a photographer's point of view, the best spot to shoot Wat Arun is from the opposite bank of the river, especially at sunset. The restaurant at Arun Residence offers stunning views and serves delicious food. ## 2. Wat Phra Kaew ![Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, within the Grand Palace grounds](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-2-Wat-Phra-Kaew-1024x682.jpg) Tourists are most likely more familiar with the setting of Wat Phra Kaew, the grounds of the legendary Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, houses one of Thailand's most revered Buddha statues, carved from a single block of jade. This Buddha image has certainly done its share of traveling. According to the official website of Thailand's palaces, it was first discovered in Chiang Rai in 1464, then brought to Lampang, where it stayed until King Tilok of Lanna moved it to Chiang Mai, his capital. It was later taken to Luang Prabang, Laos, and then to Vientiane. The King of Thonburi then sent an expedition to bring it back. When King Rama I built the city of Bangkok, including the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha was installed in a chapel, where it remains to this day. Inside this Bangkok temple, the murals are also worth a look. They depict the traditional life story of the Buddha, proverbs, and episodes from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana. ## 3. Wat Pho ![The Reclining Buddha statue at Wat Pho in Bangkok](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-3-Wat-Pho-1024x683.jpg) Wat Pho, right next door to the Grand Palace, is home to Thailand's largest Reclining Buddha. The soles of the 46-meter statue's feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting the 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha, and the statue itself is covered in gold leaf. According to Thai history books, after moving to the Grand Palace, King Rama I recognized the old temple as a site of religious significance and ordered his nobles to restore it in 1788. This first restoration took seven years, five months and 28 days. During the reign of King Rama III there was another major period of restoration and expansion, which took 16 years and seven months. Wat Pho is also home to a highly respected massage school, where Thai masseurs have trained since 1955. Visitors can drop in for a full traditional Thai massage or sign up for short or long-term courses. ## 4. Wat Benchamabophit ![The Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabophit, in the Dusit district of Bangkok](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-4-Wat-Benchamabophit-1024x768.jpg) Known in English as the "Marble Temple", the beautiful Wat Benchamabophit is a royal monastery revered as a masterpiece of Thai architecture. Its main ordination hall was built from Italian marble and shows the influence of European neoclassicism. Located in the green Dusit district of Bangkok next to Chitralada Palace, it was founded by King Rama V in 1900. His ashes are buried inside the ordination hall beneath a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue. If it looks familiar, that's because its image appears on Thailand's five baht coin. ## 5. Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit may not be one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples, but it's certainly one of the most significant from a religious point of view. One of the six royal wats, it was built during the Ayutthaya period. When Bangkok became the capital, it began to be used as a temple for royal ceremonies, since it stood right beside the newly built Grand Palace. Today it's home to Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, founded in 1887, making it Thailand's oldest higher education institution for Buddhist monks and the headquarters of Vipassana meditation. Visitors are welcome to attend classes. Nearby, the amulet market and the National Museum are also worth a visit. ## 6. Wat Saket ![The Golden Mount at Wat Saket rising above Bangkok](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-6-Wat-Saket-1024x682.jpg) Wat Saket is another one of those Bangkok temples that draws visitors not so much for the temple itself as for its unique landmarks. In this case the main attraction is the "Golden Mount", an artificial hill topped by a chedi that offers an incredible view over Bangkok. The temple, which isn't all that remarkable in itself, dates back to the Ayutthaya era but was restored under King Rama I. The Golden Mount hill was built under King Rama III, but it was Rama IV who erected the golden chedi. Rama V added the chedi that survives to this day. Inside is a revered image of the Buddha, given to him by the British. The climb to the top can be brutal on a hot day, so bring water with you. If you can handle the crowds, the temple hosts a big Loy Krathong fair in November. ## 7. Wat Traimit ![Wat Traimit, home to the solid gold Buddha in Bangkok's Chinatown](/storage/image/prev/Tailand-7-Wat-Traimit-1024x684.jpg) Here's another reason not to judge a Bangkok temple by its appearance: Wat Traimit is home to one of the world's largest Buddha statues made of solid gold. Remarkably, the image sat unnoticed for centuries until, in the 1950s, workers dropped what they believed to be a five-ton 13th-century Buddha image. The plaster cracked, revealing a statue of solid gold beneath it. It had apparently been covered up at some point to fool the invading Burmese. Behind the temple to the right stand the giant red Royal Jubilee Gates, called "Chalermphrakiat" in Thai, built in 1999 to symbolize the prosperity of Thai and Chinese cultures under His Majesty the King.