Wat Suthat in Bangkok (Wat Suthat Thepwararam in Bangkok)

When Rama I became the first ruler of the Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1782, he ordered the construction of Wat Suthat. The construction process lasted for decades, and the pagoda was finally completed during the reign of King Rama III in 1847. The entire temple complex, officially named Wat Suthat Thepphawararam, is one of the many temples. The temple has the largest campus in Bangkok with an area of over 4 hectares.

The main temple of Wat Suthat is one of the oldest surviving buildings from the Rattanakosin period. It houses the temple's most important Buddha statue named Phra Si Sakyamuni. It is an 8-meter-tall bronze statue in the taming Mara pose. It was cast during the Sukhothai period about 800 years ago and was brought to Bangkok from an abandoned temple in the city of Sukhothai by riverboat. When the Buddha arrived in Bangkok, week-long festivals were held and Buddha statues were paraded through the streets of Bangkok. Beneath the current Buddha statue are the ashes of King Ananda Mahidol, Rama VIII.

In addition, in the main prayer hall of the temple, there are beautiful frescoes on the wall telling stories of the Buddha's past lives. Some even show scenes of daily life in the Rattanakosin era. These murals and those in the Royal Palace are said to be the finest and richest paintings to be found in Thailand. The doors of the main prayer hall are made of finely carved wood, on which are also similar paintings, some of which were painted by King Rama II, a poet and a talented artist.

In the galleries surrounding the main temple, you will find a display of more than 150 large Buddha statues.

The temple complex also has a large hall, formerly the ordination hall, now used to teach Buddhist teachings, which is also the living quarters of the monks.

The large courtyard surrounding the main prayer hall contains a large number of stone statues that were shipped from China around the end of the 18th century.

And finally, the giant swing, the widely known iconic image of Wat Suthat. In the past, groups of young people competed with each other to try to reach high enough to snatch the bag of gold coins attached to the pole. Some men can sway up to more than 20 meters in the air. After a number of fatal accidents, the swing ceremony was canceled in the 1930s.

Opening hours: The temple is open every day of the week from 08:30 - 21:00