Wat Saket was once the most high point in Bangkok. Built on an artificially erected 80-meter hill, topped with a 58-meter golden chedi, it is a popular landmark in the city. sacred place pilgrimage during the Thai holiday Loikratong.
The mention of the temple dates back to the 1600s. Its territory was vast and included the city's central morgues. This area is still known as the "Ghost Gate". But 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 territory of the temple as a place for rejuvenation. The Thai words sa and ket are translated as "soul" and "hair", thus, Wat Saket is a kind of place of purification, both physically and spiritually.
The Golden Mountain is part of the complex and has a somewhat unusual history. 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, swampy soil could not bear the stress and the structure collapsed before construction was completed.
Later Rama IV erected a small Chedi on top of a mound 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 the Buddha.
The chedi, also called stupa or pagoda, is the most important and sacred part of the temple structure. Originally the pagodas contained relics of the Buddha, later they were used to bury the remains of kings or very important monks. There are different types, although, as a rule, have a conical shape. In Thailand, the most commonly used bell-shaped chedi.
Wat Saket awaits worshipers and tourists all year round. Today the top of the hill was enclosed in concrete, but its base is still made of bricks and earth. Around you can see numerous shrines of dead people, tall trees entwined with vines, flower beds, many Buddha statues, fountains, streams. Traditional Buddhist buildings are also located here: the main chapel, Bot, Viharn, library.
The Botanical Hall of Ordination is the main prayer room and one of the most important structures of 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 statue of Buddha on an ornate stand. The walls are decorated with paintings. The bot is surrounded by eight side stones - sim.
A bot and a viharn usually have similar characteristics, but a viharn (assembly hall) does not have a sim. In viharna Buddhist ceremonies are held for monks and lay people. Some viharns have entire galleries of Buddha images. In the early days of Buddhism, they were built to shelter 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 rather slight. The best time to visit the temple - the cool season is from late November to January, when not only the temperature is much cooler, but the jasmine trees bloom around, giving off a wonderful scent.
▣ Climbing to the golden mountain. The ascent will take 10-15 minutes, no more. During the walk, you will pass a series of bells and bells that you can ring for good luck. It delights both adults and young travelers.
There are benches for relaxation, a small cafe if you need to replenish your energy before or after climbing. At the top of the mountain is 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 fairly basic with windows lining the outside walls. Lots of Buddha statues in different poses. A short staircase from the center of each side leads to the shrine - the relic of the 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 find yourself here around 17:00, you can watch the traditional worship in the main hall.
In the back corner of the room is a narrow staircase to the roof. The first thing that you will see when you go out there is a huge stupa covered with thousands of gold mosaic tiles. Small group here local residents offers flowers, candles, incense, prayers.
But the real highlight is the panoramic view of Bangkok. The terrace offers a surreal landscape. Towers and rooftops in the old The great palace... In front of you is the Democracy Monument and the Ratchanadda peaks. In the northwest, you can see the pillar of the new Rama VI bridge with golden threads of pendants, and in the east - the towers of the city's business district.
Every year, Wat Saket hosts a large fair in Loikratong, usually in November. The golden chedi is draped with a huge red linen. A candlelit procession ascends to the temple and kicks off a weeklong amusement fair.
Colorful lanterns, picturesque flags, food stalls, fairgrounds, fun rides bring the area to life. 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. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that a small 10 baht (USD 0.28) fee is required before making the climb 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 subway here. Most the best way- order a taxi from the hotel. Walking distance from the Democracy Monument: straight east on Ratchadamnoen Road, then right after crossing Fan Fa Bridge.
Location of the temple on the map of Bangkok
From the side of the Sukhumvit area, it is most convenient to get by boat, sail to the final stop Phan Fa Lilat. The cost of the trip is 15 baht, so you will avoid the horrendous traffic jams in the center. Get off the boat, take the first left and you will be there in 5 minutes.
Go to the temple and city buses No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 49, 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 Temple of the Golden Mountain was considered the highest place in the city, after the Temple of Morning Dawn, which was built a little later. The height of the mountain, together with the golden pagoda, is 76 meters.
Temple of the Golden Mount
To climb to the observation deck, which is located at the base of the pagoda, to see Bangkok, you need to climb 318 steps of the red staircase.
Climbing to the golden pagoda
There are two stairs - they go around the mountain on different sides. Usually, on one of them, visitors go upstairs, and on the other they go down.
For Thais, the Temple of the Golden Mountain is a sacred and revered place, because in the 18-meter golden pagoda on the top of the mountain, a piece of Buddha's ashes is kept, it is in a golden sarcophagus.
Deep in the pagoda, the golden sarcophagus
And at the base of the mountain, 60 thousand people of Bangkok are buried.
Temple history
The Temple of the Golden Mount or Wat Saket began its life at a time when Bangkok was not yet the capital of Thailand. Thai kings, starting in the 18th century, brought their vision of beauty into its construction, tirelessly completing the temple and rebuilding it, until it finally acquired its present appearance, and became another popular landmark in Bangkok.
The temple is beautiful, located on a high man-made hill, which was poured under Rama III. A golden pagoda was erected on top.
Golden pagoda at the top of the mountain
But the ground man made mountain turned out to be fragile and began to sag. We had to urgently reinforce the slopes with concrete retaining walls. This is how the golden pagoda now stands on a concrete-bordered hill.
Golden mountain in concrete
Climbing the mountain is not at all tiring, but pleasant and interesting. The stairs were built with care for those who climb them. They have a comfortable step and a gentle slope.
The views from the sides are very beautiful. Artificial waterfalls murmur, lianas hung their branches, shading the steps. There are many different flower arrangements, picturesque bushes, sculptures of birds and animals. And - the bells! There are so many of them!
Bells of the Temple of the Golden Mount
Bells accompany you almost all the way up. There is a belief that everyone who rings them will gain health and good luck. Therefore, tourists, going upstairs, do not hesitate to strike them, try not to miss a single bell, believing that they are getting the desired luck for themselves.
Eh, I'll call for good luck
And then there's the big gong. They also beat him, and beat him with force. The gong sways and creates a dull sound that echoes along the way.
Gong Temple of the Golden Mountain
Like this, accompanied by bell ringing and the sounds of the gong, visitors to the Golden Mountain ascend to the highest point of their route - to the golden pagoda.
Observation deck at the pagoda
Around the pagoda, there is a large observation deck with stunning views of all four sides. Many people want to see Bangkok from it, because the city is here at a glance - with all the sights of Bangkok - temples, skyscrapers, slums.
Panorama from observation deck
An internal staircase leads to the middle of the pagoda. After passing through the narrow corridors, you find yourself in its most sacred part. There is a golden sarcophagus, in which rests part of the ashes of the Buddha, once brought from India. What part of the body is this ashes from, the Thais great mystery- let her stay with them.
At the golden sarcophagus
In November every year, a Buddhist festival is held on the Golden Mountain, which gathers a huge number of pilgrims.
Many-faced Buddha at the pagoda
This amazing place is the temple of the Golden Mountain, our story summed up. I can imagine how beautiful it is to meet the sunrise here, or to see off the sunset! And also - to meditate and dream!
Bangkok panorama
Temple of the Golden Mount or Wat Saket - perfect place in the center of Bangkok to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. We arrived here in the evening from the business center of the city by boat (which is still an attraction :-)) along the klong (canal) in order to meet 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 Mountain Wat Saket
The Wat Saket Temple in Bangkok is one of the oldest temples in the city. Initially, it was built on the ground, but they did not calculate a little, and the ground under the building subsided. Then it was decided to erect an artificial mountain with a height of about 80 meters, and a little later, an 18-meter golden stupa was built. Hence the other name of this place - the Temple of the Golden Mount (Golden Mount).
This place has long remained the highest point in Bangkok, and is still revered by the Thais, thanks to several Buddhist relics found in Nepal, and later found here.
In general, of course, this is not a mountain, but a hill, and the ascent presents no difficulty. At the beginning of the stairs there is an elephant figure:
At the beginning, the ascent goes through the thickets of trees and bushes, the Buddha is hiding and waiting for you to achieve enlightenment
But this is a very special thing! Any modern instrument and high-class technique can envy such bass. Everything inside already vibrates))
Along the way, there are rest areas, benches, and, of course, bells. Moreover, the "tongue" is made of ordinary fittings)) But it sounds great!
On the way up, we met our old acquaintances from Mezhdurechensk, with whom they waited the night at the Irkutsk airport, then met on Khaosan Road, and now to Wat Saket! It's amazing how tight Bangkok is :-) Only 2 days here, and you meet already familiar ones.
Evening falls on Bangkok ... From above you can see many. In the foreground - other buildings of the Temple of the Golden Mountain, in the far - the modern districts of the city (Pratumnam, Silom and others).
View of Bangkok from the Golden Mountain
Two stairs, as it were, surround the temple, you can climb any, we went along the near left
A small photo session of everyone with everyone))
By the way, if you are in Chiang Mai, go to - from there you can also see the city from above.
Anna the beautiful and the city of angels Bangkok
Unfortunately, we did not take into account that the church closes at 17.30, so they did not let us to the very top, but they did not kick us out of this place, to the very bottom.
Since it was already late, there was no one left for the people except us. We stand, soak up the sounds big city, the smell of eternal summer, the calmness and serenity of this place ...
Prayers on Buddhist Bells
But now it has become completely dark, here in Thailand it is getting dark somehow quickly, they have not yet got used to it after Russia. It's time to go down.
Another temple on the territory of the complex
As soon as we sat down to rest on the bench below, we met such an 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 dusk, as in. Very pleasant quiet place in the middle of a bustling metropolis. I highly recommend stopping by!
Temple of the Golden Mount Wat Saket - useful information
Working hours: from 07.30 to 17.30
Entrance: is free
How to get there?
And the skytrain was not carried out here, so from the center it is best by boat, as I said, or by taxi or bus.
It’s also not far from the street: past the Democracy Monument, across the bridges, if you see a fire station, then you’re already very close :-)
Here is a map for better orientation.
There are many interesting sights in Bangkok. But one of them is special for Buddhists. This is a temple, better known as the Temple of the Golden Mountain, which is a man-made hill with a golden chedi on top. Its name suggests that it is located on a hill and offers excellent views of the city. Wat Saket has large trees and traditional Buddhist structures such as the main chapel, initiation hall and library. They were built during the period of power (1350-1767) and then restored during the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809). Buddhist services are held every day in the 58-meter chedi containing Buddha particles. The temple also hosts an annual traditional fair in November and continues during the Loy Krathong week in Thailand.
Temple of the Golden Mount - Wat Saket
Built on an artificial man-made hill in historic center Bangkok, Temple of the Golden Mountain is one of the most famous and sacred places of worship during the week of pilgrimage in November. To get to the top, you need to climb about 300 steps along the stairs that encircle the Golden Mountain. This path has good coverage, so it is quite easy to climb up the hill. However, at noon and on the hottest summer months when the shade does not save you from the scorching sun rays and hot air, it is more difficult to go to the top of Wat Saket than usual.
Interesting fact. The Wat Saket temple in Bangkok was for a long time the tallest structure in the city (76 meters), until it was surpassed by the Wat Arun temple after another restructuring (79 meters).
Briefly about the temple of Wat Saket
- Before starting the way up to the temple, you will see an unusual cemetery, which is located at the foot Golden mountains... Set in the shade of overgrown trees and covered with lush vegetation, slabs and sarcophagi from afar resemble ghosts. A possible reason for this is the amazing history of Wat Saket, which at the end of the 18th century served as a capital crematorium and a mass burial place for more than 60 thousand victims of the plague that broke out in.
- The temple was destroyed during the reign of King Rama the Third, and then rebuilt by order of Rama the Fourth, and the golden spire again began to proudly rise above the city.
- Closer to the top of the hill, you will see a whole wall of bells, and from the observation deck of the temple, a wonderful panorama of the historical part of Bangkok opens, and the whole city can be seen at a glance.
Every year in November, Wat Saket hosts a huge temple fair, which opens after the annual ceremony of worshiping the Buddha particles. During this period, the golden chedi stands wrapped in bright red cloth, and the opening of the weekly fair begins with a procession of lighted candles stretching from the foot to the very top of the Golden Mountain.
This is a rare opportunity to visit a wide fair in a Buddhist temple, held in accordance with ancient traditions that have been miraculously preserved and have come down to us from the depths of time. Distinctive feature this fair is full of colorful lanterns all over the place, and an incredible amount of decorative flags. Here you can buy food for all tastes, as well as participate in fairground games that bring the Golden Mountain to life and make it a center of attraction for all people. Crowds of pilgrims, fair visitors from all over and just curious tourists fill all the free space on the territory of the Wat Saket temple from early morning until midnight during the fair week.
If you decide to head to the Temple of the Golden Mountain in Bangkok after sunset during the celebrations, be prepared to queue up from the Rattanakosin Hotel. So take it up as early as possible.
I also recommend taking a walk around Bangkok on the way to Wat Saket and finding out how this bustling Asian metropolis lives. It is interesting to read some of them beforehand, and then notice them while walking around the city.
It is best to view Wat Saket in the morning or late in the evening, when it is not very hot outside. Compared to the other temple-Mount Wat Arun, there are always a lot of tourists here, but in general, the atmosphere is more calm and peaceful. A great place to hide from the hustle and bustle of the bustling city of Bangkok.
Information about Wat Saket:
- Working hours: from 7:30 to 17:30
- Visit cost: free, but you can leave a small donation
- Where is it located and how to get there. Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mountain) is located in the center of Bangkok, a short walk from the Democracy Monument, which in turn is located near Khao San Road.
Video about Wat Saket:
Our advice: Many people prefer to look at Bangkok from the Bayok Sky skyscraper, but in our opinion Wat Saket is a much more romantic place to view the panorama of the city.
Map
What else to see in Bangkok?
Cheap flights to Bangkok
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