What is Wat Saket?
Wat Saket on the Golden Mountain is located in Bangkok's Old Town in Phra Nakhon. This Buddhist temple is a famous landmark of the capital, enjoying the constant love of the townspeople and the admiration of tourists from all over the world.
Bangkok became the capital of Thailand in the 18th century, and the Saket Temple already existed then; the exact time of its first construction is not known. It has been restored and reconstructed several times, but it is, of course, not a remake.
The most interesting thing here is the Golden Pagoda or stupa, where Buddhists worship their gods. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century on a previously filled mountain 60 meters high. And the temple itself has a height of 16 meters.
To climb to Wat Saket on the Golden Mountain, you need to overcome 318 steps, believe me, it is not difficult at all. And after passing these steps and approaching the front doors, you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama of the capital of Thailand.
What can you see at Wat Saket?
The dome of this Buddhist stupa is covered with thin gold foil on the orders of King Rama III; it looks extremely beautiful in the sun. As you go up the stairs, you will see bells and a gong. It is believed that hitting the gong will bring you good luck.
The temple area is very well maintained, there are many tropical trees, among which there are statues of Buddha and animals, you can even see a live elephant. On a hot day, you can easily find much-needed coolness and relaxation near Wat Saket.
When you go inside, you will immediately see a statue of a reclining Buddha, and around him there are several smaller figures. There is also a statue of the Emerald Buddha, a copy of Wat Phra Kaew. You can pray, meditate or just think, the environment is conducive to this.
In the very center of the Golden Pagoda there is, closed in a small sarcophagus, a shrine brought from India. It is not shown to tourists as they are uninitiated in the mysteries of Buddhism. The sarcophagus contains a piece of the relics of Buddha, which all Buddhists worship.
It is interesting that in modern Buddhist temples, sound speakers are installed, from which a voice flows, reading the Holy Books of this religion. Local residents come here to pray together and celebrate family holidays.
The interior walls of the pagoda are covered with paintings telling about the earthly life and earthly suffering of the Buddha, his path to enlightenment, which he eventually achieved. Such pictures can often be seen on Thai postcards.
There is a souvenir shop inside the temple, so you can always buy some trinket as a souvenir of your visit to this extraordinary place and at home again remember your trip to the fabulously beautiful Thailand.
There are many more religious buildings around the pagoda, because it is a large temple complex. These buildings were built in traditional Thai style and are intended for worship and domestic needs.
It is also worth noting that a century ago this temple specialized in the cremation of the local poor. Today it does not perform this function. People come here to pray, meditate, celebrate holidays, incl. and funeral. After all, in Thailand this is a family celebration.
How to get to Wat Saket?
The temple is located in the old part of the city; there is no metro here. But you can get there by taxi or public transport. There are buses, tuk-tuks, water buses and ferries. If you wish, you can walk to Wat Saket. Wat Ratchanadda, the Royal Palace and Wat Pho are very close by.
How much does it cost to visit the temple?
Wat Saket is open to tourists from 07:30 to 17:30.
Entrance to it is completely free, like to any Buddhist temple. But it is customary to bring monetary donations, which should be placed in special piggy banks located at the entrance. You cannot give money to monks; this is prohibited by their faith.
What should you consider?
In addition to the well-known rule that you can only come to a Buddhist temple in closed clothes, they also ask you to take off your shoes when entering the stupa. There is a notice about this on the front doors. But all this is not necessary. The monks themselves easily wear shoes.
Remember that for a Buddhist monk, money is a great evil that significantly removes one from enlightenment. Just like a woman, he cannot touch them. This rule is strict. Therefore, do not try to give the monk even a small change, it will offend him.
Wat Saket was once the most high point in Bangkok. Erected on an artificially constructed 80-meter hill, crowned with a 58-meter golden chedi, it is a popular landmark of the city, a sacred place of pilgrimage during the Thai festival of Loy Krathong.
Mention of the temple dates back to the 1600s. Its territory was vast and included the central morgues of the city. This area is still known as the "Ghost Gate". But the cemeteries were only one aspect of the temple. It served as a community center and had its own schools.
King Rama I (founder of the Chakri dynasty, one of the historical figures of Thailand), used the temple grounds as a place for rejuvenation. The Thai words sa and ket translate as “soul” and “hair”, so Wat Saket is a kind of place of purification, both physically and spiritually.
Golden Mountain is part of the complex and has several unusual story. King Rama III (grandson of Rama I) in the early nineteenth century wanted to build a large chedi on the mountain to mark the entrance to the city. The soft, marshy soil could not support the load and the structure collapsed before construction was completed.
Later, Rama IV erected a small Chedi on top of the mound made of earth and bricks. The pagoda was rebuilt again at the end of the nineteenth century by his son Rama V, when the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, presented a unique gift - the relics of Buddha.
The chedi, also called stupa or pagoda, is the most important and sacred part of the temple structure. Pagodas originally contained relics of Buddha and were later used to bury the remains of kings or very important monks. There are various types, although, as a rule, they have a conical shape. In Thailand, the most commonly used chedi is the bell shape.
Wat Saket welcomes worshipers and tourists all year round. Today the top of the hill is encased in concrete, but its base still consists of brick and earth. Around you can see numerous shrines of deceased people, tall trees entwined with vines, flower beds, many Buddha statues, fountains, and streams. There are also traditional Buddhist buildings here: the main chapel, Bot, Viharn, library.
The Bot - the ordination hall - is the main prayer room and one of the most important structures of the Wat.
This is the building where monks are ordained. It is also used for other important temple rituals. It has a rectangular shape with the main entrance facing east. Opposite the entrance is a Buddha statue on a richly decorated stand. The walls are decorated with paintings. The bot is surrounded by eight side stones - sima.
The bot and the viharn usually have similar characteristics, but the viharn (assembly hall) does not have a sim. Buddhist ceremonies for monks and lay people are held in viharnas. Some viharns have entire galleries of Buddha images. In the early days of Buddhism, they were built to provide shelter for traveling monks during the rainy season.
Climbing to the temple
From the base of Wat Saket, a wide spiral staircase of 320 steps leads up. The climb is not strenuous as the incline is quite small. Best time To visit the temple is the cool season from late November to January, when not only the temperature is much cooler, but the jasmine trees are blooming around, emitting a wonderful smell.
▣ Climbing to the golden mountain. The rise will take 10-15 minutes, no more. As you walk, you'll pass a series of bells and bells that you can ring for good luck. This delights both adults and little travelers.
There are benches to rest and a small cafe if you need to replenish your energy before or after the climb. At the top of the mountain there is a Buddhist temple. As with all sacred sites, it is important to be respectful of the local culture and act and dress appropriately. By the way, when visiting Wat Saket you do not need to take off your shoes, as in other temples, as indicated by the inscription at the entrance.
The interior is quite simple with windows along the outer walls. Many Buddha statues in different poses. A short staircase from the center of each side leads to a shrine - a relic of Buddha, which lies directly under the chedi on the roof. The shrine is covered with many layers of gold leaf donated by the faithful over more than 100 years. If you are here around 17:00, you can watch the traditional worship service in the main hall.
In the back corner of the room is a narrow staircase to the roof. The first thing you see when you go out there is a huge stupa covered with thousands of golden mosaic tiles. Here a small group of locals offers flowers, candles, incense, and prayers.
But the real highlight is considered panoramic view to Bangkok. The terrace offers a surreal landscape. In the west there are towers and roofs in the old Grand Palace. In front of you is the Monument to Democracy and the peaks of Ratchanadda. To the north-west are the pillars of the new Rama VI Bridge with golden threads of pendants, and to the east are the towers of the city's business district.
Every year Wat Saket hosts a large fair on Loy Krathong, usually in November. The golden chedi is draped with a huge red cloth. A candlelit procession ascends to the temple and opens a week-long funfair.
Colorful lanterns, picturesque flags, food stalls, fairground activities, and fun rides enliven the area. A crowd of pilgrims and visitors gathers at the base of the temple almost all week.
Time and cost of visit
Opening hours: daily 07:30-17:30. Free admission. However, it's worth keeping in mind before you make the climb that a small fee of 10 baht (0.28 USD) is required to enter the building and access the rooftop terrace.
How to get there
Wat Saket is located between Boriphat Road and Lan Luang Road. There is no metro here. Most the best option— order a taxi from the hotel. From the Democracy Monument you can walk: straight east along Ratchadamnoen Road, then right after crossing the Phan Fa Bridge.
Location of the temple on the map of Bangkok
From the Sukhumvit area, the most convenient way to get there is by boat, sailing to the final stop Phan Fa Lilat. The cost of the trip is 15 baht, so you will avoid the terrible traffic jams in the center. Get off the boat, take the first left, and you will be there in 5 minutes.
City buses No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 49 also go to the temple; the cost of travel depends on the distance and category of the bus: from 6 to 23 baht.
When there were no skyscrapers in Bangkok, the Golden Mount Temple was considered the most high place city, after the Temple of the Dawn, which was built a little later. The height of the mountain, together with the golden pagoda, is 76 meters.
Temple of the Golden Mountain
To climb to the observation deck located at the base of the pagoda to see Bangkok, you need to climb 318 steps of the red staircase.
Ascent to the Golden Pagoda
There are two stairs - they go around the mountain on different sides. Usually, visitors go up one of them and go down the other.
The Golden Mountain Temple is a sacred and revered place for Thais, because in the 18-meter golden pagoda at the top of the mountain, a piece of Buddha’s ashes is kept in a golden sarcophagus.
In the depths of the pagoda there is a golden sarcophagus
And at the base of the mountain - 60 thousand residents of Bangkok are buried.
History of the temple
The Temple of the Golden Mountain or Wat Saket began its life in a time when Bangkok was not yet the capital of Thailand. Thai kings, starting from the 18th century, brought their own vision of beauty into its construction, tirelessly completing the temple and rebuilding until it finally acquired its current appearance, and became another popular landmark of Bangkok.
The temple is beautiful, located on a high man-made hill, which was built under Rama III. A golden pagoda was erected on top.
Golden pagoda on top of the mountain
But the soil of the man-made mountain turned out to be fragile and began to sag. It was necessary to urgently strengthen the slopes with concrete retaining walls. This is how the golden pagoda now stands on a hill bordered by concrete.
Golden mountain in concrete
Climbing the mountain is not at all tiring, but pleasant and interesting. Stairs are built with care for those who climb them. They have a comfortable step and a gentle slope.
The views on both sides are very beautiful. Artificial waterfalls gurgle, vines hang their branches, shading the steps. There are many different flower arrangements, picturesque bushes, sculptures of birds and animals. And - bells! There are so many of them!
Bells of the Golden Mountain Temple
The bells accompany you almost throughout the climb. There is a belief that anyone who rings them will gain health and good luck. Therefore, tourists, when going up, are not lazy to hit them, they try not to miss a single bell, believing that they are getting the desired luck for themselves.
Eh, I'll call for luck
There is also a big gong. They also hit him, and they hit him with force. The gong swings and creates a dull sound that echoes all the way.
Golden Mountain Temple Gong
This is how, accompanied by the ringing of bells and the sounds of a gong, visitors to the Golden Mountain rise to the highest point of their route - to the Golden Pagoda.
Viewpoint at the pagoda
There is a large observation deck around the pagoda with stunning views on all four sides. Many people want to see Bangkok from it, because the city is here in full view - with all the sights of Bangkok - temples, skyscrapers, slums.
Panorama from the observation deck
You can climb up the internal stairs to the middle of the pagoda. Walking through the narrow corridors, you find yourself in its most sacred part. There is a golden sarcophagus here, containing part of the ashes of Buddha, once brought from India. From what part of the body this ashes come is a great secret among the Thais - let it remain with them.
At the golden sarcophagus
Every November, a Buddhist festival takes place on the Golden Mountain, attracting a huge number of pilgrims.
Many-faced Buddha at the pagoda
This place is amazing - the Temple of the Golden Mountain, our story summed up. I can imagine how beautiful it is to greet the sunrise or watch the sunset here! And also - meditate and dream!
Panorama of Bangkok
The Temple of the Golden Mountain or Wat Saket is a great place in the center of Bangkok to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. We arrived here in the evening from the business center of the city by boat (what an attraction :-)) along the Klong (canal) in order to watch the sunset. We were a little late, but still caught the last rays of the setting sun and looked at the evening city from above!
Temple of the Golden Mount Wat Saket (Wat Saket)
Wat Saket in Bangkok is one of the oldest temples in the city. Initially, it was built on the ground, but the calculations were slightly miscalculated, and the ground under the building subsided. Then it was decided to build an artificial mountain about 80 meters high, and a little later they built an 18-meter golden stupa. Hence another name for this place - the Temple of the Golden Mount.
This place has long remained the highest point in Bangkok, and is still revered by Thais, thanks to several Buddhist relics found in Nepal and later ending up here.
In general, of course, this is not a mountain, but a hill, and the climb does not present any difficulty. At the beginning of the stairs there is a figure of an elephant:
At the beginning, the ascent goes through thickets of trees and bushes, there Buddha is hiding and waiting for you to achieve enlightenment
But this is a very special thing! Such basses can be the envy of any modern instrument and high-end equipment. Everything inside is vibrating))
Along the way there are rest areas, benches, and of course bells. Moreover, the “tongue” is made of ordinary reinforcement)) But it sounds great!
On the way up we met our old friends from Mezhdurechensk, with whom we waited out the night at the Irkutsk airport, then we met on Khao San Road, and now to Wat Saket! It's amazing what a cramped city Bangkok is :-) You've only been here for 2 days and you're already meeting people you know.
Evening is falling on Bangkok... You can see many from above. In the foreground are other buildings of the Golden Mount Temple, in the background are modern areas of the city (Pratumnam, Silom and others).
View of Bangkok from the Golden Mountain
Two staircases seem to encircle the temple, you can climb either one, we went along the one near the left
A small photo session of everyone with everyone))
By the way, if you are in Chiang Mai, go to it - you can also see the city from above.
Anna the Beautiful and the City of Angels Bangkok
Unfortunately, we didn’t take into account that the temple closes at 17.30, so they didn’t let us go to the very top, but they didn’t kick us out of this place, to the very bottom.
Since it was already late, there were no people left except us. We stand, absorb the sounds big city, the smell of eternal summer, the calm and tranquility of this place...
Prayers on Buddhist bells
But then it became completely dark, here in Thailand it somehow gets dark quickly, we’re still not used to it after Russia. It's time to go down.
Another temple on the territory of the complex
We had just sat down to rest on the bench below when we met this inhabitant of these places:
I repeat, it is better to come here either early in the morning or late in the evening, to look at the city at dawn or sunset, as in. Very nice quiet place in the middle of a noisy metropolis. I recommend checking it out!
Temple of the Golden Mount Wat Saket - useful information
Working hours: from 07.30 to 17.30
Entrance: for free
How to get there?
And the skytrain was not installed here, so the best way to get from the center is by boat, as I already said, or by taxi or bus.
The walk from the street is also very close: past the Democracy Monument, across the bridges, if you see a fire station, then you are already very close :-)
Here is a map for better orientation.
The Temple of the Golden Mount or Wat Saket and the Golden Mount is originally called Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan. This attraction is worth a visit after the “golden triangle of Bangkok”, which, by the way, does not include either.
How to get to the Temple of the Golden Mountain?
The Temple of the Golden Mountain is located in the Ratanakosin Island area of Bangkok. From the Khao San area, getting to the temple is not difficult on foot. From other areas you will have to take a taxi or bus, since there is no metro near the temple (the nearest station is 2 kilometers away).
Not far from the temple, city buses on routes No. 8, 37 and 47 stop (the fare, depending on the distance and category of the bus, costs from 6 to 23 baht). To find out whether a particular bus route passes in the area of your hotel, you can use the service on the official BTMA city bus website or simply ask at the hotel reception.
From Pratunam and Siam areas, the Temple of the Golden Mount can be reached by river taxi. River taxi boats along the Golden Line route depart in the Pratunam area from under the bridge at the intersection of Phetchaburi and Ratchadamri streets and proceed through the Siam area almost to the Temple of the Golden Mount. You can get off at any stop along the route and sail to the final stop Phan Fa Lilat. The fare costs 13 baht.
Temple of the Golden Mount on the map of Bangkok:
Near the temple you can buy all sorts of goodies :) It was here that we tried cool Thai ice cream!
The place is really interesting and thoughtful. The very 318 steps that need to be overcome to the top seem easy at first, because there are air humidification systems. It looks great
But at some point it all ends. But then bells appear that you can ring. Which is what everyone does. It is believed that ringing these bells will bring you good luck and good health.
There's even a big gong. A place for a photo, but what about :)
Somewhere here is a piece of Buddha. You can't see her, but you can be close to her :)
The height of the hill including the chedi is 76 meters. Until the time when skyscrapers began to be built in the city, the pagoda of the Temple of the Golden Mountain was the highest point in Bangkok on the east coast of the Chao Phraya River (only the Temple of the Dawn, 88 meters high, on the west coast was higher). (Info from the OurPlanet website)
The temple and mountain were originally built back in the days when the capital of the kingdom was the city of Ayutthaya. Later, starting from the 18th century, the temple was repeatedly built and improved by the kings of Thailand until it acquired its current appearance. When the capital of Thailand moved to Bangkok in the 18th century, the temple was used as the city's crematorium. They say that on the territory of the temple (at the base of the mountain) the remains of more than 60 thousand people from among the poor population of Bangkok are buried. Now, of course, the temple is no longer used as a crematorium. Most interesting feature What attracts tourists to this temple is that an artificial rubble has been created on its territory, on which there is one of the temple buildings and a gilded chedi (pagoda). (Info from the OurPlanet website)
It’s fun near the golden stupa :) There’s this kind of man standing out of nowhere
You can also write your name on the red ribbon by paying a little money on top, which is what I did:
In fact, the place is worthy of your attention in Bangkok. Have you been to this city?
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