What is our life? Just the way! The Temple of the Golden Mount (Wat Saket) is a great place to watch sunsets! Temple of the golden mountain in bangkok description.

Wat Saket was once the most high point in Bangkok. Erected on an artificially constructed 80-meter hill, topped with a 58-meter golden chedi, it is a popular landmark of the city, a sacred place of pilgrimage during the Thai holiday of Loy Krathong.

The mention of the temple refers to the period of the 1600s. Its territory was extensive and included the central morgues of the city. The 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 (the 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 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) wanted to build a large chedi on the mountain in the early nineteenth century to mark the entrance to the city. The soft marshy soil could not bear the load and the structure collapsed before construction was completed.

Later, Rama IV erected a small chedi on top of the earth and brick mound. 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. Initially pagodas contained relics of the Buddha, later they were 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 bell-shaped chedi is most commonly used.

Wat Saket expects worshipers and tourists all year round. Today, the top of the hill has been encased in concrete, but its base is still brick, 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, the library.

Bot - the hall of ordination - 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 boat is surrounded by eight side stones - Sima.

Bot and viharn usually have similar characteristics, but viharn (assembly hall) does not have a sim. The viharn hosts Buddhist ceremonies 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.

Ascent to the temple

From the base of Wat Saket, a wide spiral staircase of 320 steps leads up. The ascent is not strenuous as the slope is quite slight. The best time to visit the temple is the cool season from the end of November to January, when not only the temperatures are much cooler, but the jasmine trees bloom all around, giving off a wonderful smell.

The rise will take 10-15 minutes, no more. As you walk, you will pass a series of bells and bells that you can ring for good luck. This delights both adults and young travelers.

There are benches to rest, a small cafe if you need to replenish your energy before or after the ascent. At the top of the mountain 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. Lots of Buddha statues in different poses. A short staircase from the center of each side leads to a shrine, a relic of the Buddha, which lies directly below the chedi on the roof. The shrine is covered with many layers of gold leaf donated by the faithful over 100 years. If you find yourself here around 17:00, you will be able to observe 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 is a small group local residents offers flowers, candles, incense, prayers.

But the real highlight is the panoramic view of Bangkok. A surreal landscape opens up from the terrace. In the west, towers and roofs in the old Grand Palace. In front of you is the Monument to Democracy and the peaks of Ratchanadda. The pillars of the new Rama VI Bridge are visible to the northwest, with golden threads of pendants, and the towers of the city's business district are visible to the east.

Every year in Wat Saket is held big fair on Loykrathong, usually in November. The golden chedi is draped with a huge red cloth. A candlelit procession ascends to the temple and opens the week-long entertainment fair.

Multi-colored lanterns, picturesque flags, food stalls, fairground amusements, 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 visiting

Opening hours: daily 07:30-17:30. Free admission. However, be aware that before making the climb, a small fee of 10 baht (0.28 USD) is required to enter the building and access the roof 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. The Democracy Monument can be reached on foot: straight east on Ratchadamnoen Road, then right after crossing Phan Fa Bridge.

Location of the temple on the map of Bangkok

From the Sukhumvit area, it is most convenient to get by boat, sail to 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.

City buses No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 49 also go to the temple, the fare depends on the distance and category of the bus: from 6 to 23 baht.

At the northern end historic island Ratanakosin is Wat Saket, notable only for the carved decoration of the temple sanctuary. Nearby stands a 78-meter artificial mountain, known to Europeans as the Golden Mountain, the spire of the stupa of which serves as a good guide.

Wat Saket - Temple of the Golden Mount

Wat Saket, similar to the Wat Phrakew and Pho, was built by Rama I in the early 19th century and is therefore one of the oldest structures in the city. Initially, it was erected outside the city walls and served as a crematorium for citizens of humble origin. Later, at the end of the 19th century, its territory became the burial place for the victims of the cholera epidemic. The complex is built in the traditional Bangkok style - the main sanctuary is surrounded by a large and quiet courtyard.

The decoration of the temple is made up of modern murals. Pay attention to the rows of deities in the upper tiers of the murals, depicted in prayer, with their eyes turned to the altar.

Just outside the main monastery is another shrine with a huge standing Buddha, which Rama I took out of the ruins of Sukhothai. On the walls are pictures of Buddha's disciples. Behind the altar, in the sanctuary, is a seated Buddha surrounded by bronze statues of his disciples.

It can be useful

In the western part of the wat, 320 steps lead to the top of the Golden Mountain (the highest point in Bangkok until the 1960s), winding around tombstones, hundreds of Buddha statues and small mounds, embodying Hindu-Buddhist ideas about the structure of the universe, at the center of which is Mount Meru . This artificial mountain was created from clay, bricks and teak logs after the chedi, erected on this site by order of Rama III, collapsed due to soft ground.

Subsequently, Rama IV built a new chedi on the crest of this mountain. The second chedi was rebuilt by Rama V to house an Indian Buddhist relic given to the king by the British government in 1897. Every November, a holiday is held in Wat Saket, during which a procession with candles is arranged to the top of the Golden Mountain.

Time and cost of visiting

• Opening hours: daily 07:30-17:30.

• Free admission.

However, be aware that before making the climb, a small fee of 10 baht (0.28 USD) is required to enter the building and access the roof terrace.

How to get to the Golden Mountain

Wat Saket is located between Boriphat Road and Lan Luang Road. There is no subway here. The best option is . The Democracy Monument can be reached on foot: straight east on Ratchadamnoen Road, then right after crossing Phan Fa Bridge.

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.

City buses No. 8, 15, 37, 47, 49 also go to the temple, the fare depends on the distance and category of the bus: from 6 to 23 baht.

Temple of the Golden Mount or Wat Saket and the Golden Mount is originally called Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan. The temple and the 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 completed and improved by the kings of Thailand until it acquired its current form. When the capital of Thailand moved to Bangkok in the 18th century, the temple was used as the city's crematorium. It is said that the remains of more than 60 thousand people from among the poor population of Bangkok are buried on the territory of the temple (at the base of the mountain). Now, of course, the temple as a crematorium is no longer used.

In general, this is a very interesting and famous temple in Bangkok, and you should definitely visit it if you have already managed to get acquainted with the main trinity of Bangkok attractions: Royal Palace, Temple of the Reclining Buddha and Temple morning dawn. most interesting feature for tourists in this temple is that artificial trash has been created on its territory, on which one of the buildings of the temple and a gilded chedi (pagoda) are located. The height of the hill together with the chedi is 76 meters. Before skyscrapers began to be built in the city, the pagoda of the Temple of the Golden Mount was the highest point in Bangkok on the east coast of the Chao Phraya River (only the Temple of the Dawn was higher at 88 meters on west coast). Climbing up, you can see an excellent panoramic view of the Ratannakosin area of ​​Bangkok from a bird's eye view. To climb up, you will have to overcome more than 300 steps (they say exactly 318). When you go upstairs, you will pass by the bells, which you can safely ring, no one will tell you anything (just don't overdo it, they are very loud). It is believed that if you ring these bells, you will have good luck and health. Like it or not, you can check for yourself. When you go upstairs and get into the room at the base of the pagoda, inside it you will need to find another staircase that will lead you to observation deck, where the chedi is located and from where you can see the city.

But not only this temple is known. This place is very revered and visited by Thais, because here, on the top of the mountain, in a special vault in the very center of the building, a piece of the ashes of the Buddha, brought from India, is kept, but no one is told which one. You cannot see the particle of ashes itself, but you can see the golden sarcophagus in which it is stored. The sarcophagus is located in the very center of the room at the base of the pagoda, and narrow corridors lead to it, where you can go, but only strictly following the directions indicated by the arrows. Every November, the temple hosts a grand Buddhist festival, during which a huge procession ascends the hill.

The temple itself consists not only of a mountain and a pagoda located on it, as many tourists believe. In fact, the territory of the temple is quite extensive, and the main building of the temple is located near the mountain. It may not stand out among the hundreds of other temples in Bangkok, but if you get here, it's worth a visit.

Practical information

Entrance fee: visiting the temple is free, but when you climb the mountain, when you enter the room at the base of the pagoda, you should drop 10 or more baht as a donation into the box, which will be unobtrusively reminded by a signature and a transparent donation box at the entrance.

Opening hours: daily from 07:30 to 17:30.

How to get there?

The Temple of the Golden Mount is located in Bangkok's Ratanakosin area. From the Khaosan area, getting to the temple is not difficult on foot. From the rest of the districts, you will have to get by 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 of routes No. 8, 37 and 47 make stops (travel, depending on the distance and category of the bus, costs from 6 to 23 baht). To find out if a particular bus route passes in the area of ​​your hotel, you can use the service on the official website of BTMA city buses or simply ask at the hotel reception.

From the Pratunam and Siam areas, the Temple of the Golden Mount can be reached by river taxi. River taxi boats along the Golden Line route sail in the Pratunam area from under the bridge at the intersection of Phetchaburi and Ratchadamri streets and follow through the Siam area almost to the Temple of the Golden Mount. You can sit at any stop along the route, and swim to the final stop Phan Fa Lilat. The fare is 13 baht.

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The golden chedi at the top of the mountain is so named because its dome is covered with thin gold plates. Climbing up the stairs, halfway you will see several bells and one large gong that you can strike. It is believed that it brings good luck.

At the very top, enjoying the panoramic view of Bangkok, it is worth going inside the pagoda. Some take off their shoes, some don't - so it doesn't matter. The fans are on, so it's pretty cool. You can sit or pray. Inside is a statue of a reclining Buddha in human height and a dozen smaller statues, in various poses. Also inside there is a souvenir shop with religious attributes.

In the very center of the base of the pagoda is a Buddhist shrine brought from India. But it will not be possible to see it, since it is closed from prying eyes and rests in a sarcophagus.

Even though the area temple complex Wat Saket is not limited to the Golden Pagoda, but the rest of the buildings are not of particular interest to tourists, unless you want to pray in a Buddhist way. This can be done at the foot of the mountain and in the surrounding area. There are many temple buildings made in the traditional Thai style and practically no different from other temples in Thailand. If you have time, you can check them out.

The cost of visiting the Temple of the Golden Mountain is 50 baht.

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How to get to the Temple of the Golden Mount

From the center of the capital, you can take a taxi, tuk-tuk or city buses to the Democracy Monument (for example, No. 2 and 511).

When there were no skyscrapers in Bangkok, the Temple of the Golden Mount was considered the highest place in the city, after the Temple of 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 overcome 318 steps of the red staircase.

Climbing to the Golden Pagoda

There are two stairs - they go around the mountain on different sides. Usually, visitors go up on one of them, and go down on the other.

The Temple of the Golden Mountain is a sacred and revered place for Thais, because in the 18-meter golden pagoda, on the top of the mountain, a piece of Buddha's ashes is stored, it is in a golden sarcophagus.

In the depths of the pagoda, a golden sarcophagus

And at the base of the mountain, 60,000 residents of Bangkok are buried.

Temple history

The Temple of the Golden Mountain or Wat Saket began its life at a time when Bangkok was not yet the capital of Thailand. Thai kings, starting from the 18th century, brought their vision of beauty into its construction, relentlessly completing the construction of the temple and rebuilding it, until it finally acquired its present appearance and became another popular attraction 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 soil of the man-made mountain turned out to be fragile and began to subside. I had to urgently strengthen the slopes with concrete retaining walls. And so now the golden pagoda 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 side views are very beautiful. Artificial waterfalls murmur, lianas hung their branches, shading the steps. Many different flower arrangements, picturesque bushes, sculptures of birds and animals. And the bells! There are so many!

Bells of the Temple of the Golden Mount

The bells accompany you almost all the way up. There is a belief that everyone who rings in them will gain health and good luck. Therefore, tourists, going upstairs, are not too lazy to hit them, 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 hit him with force. The gong swings and creates a dull sound that echoes throughout the journey.

Gong of the Temple of the Golden Mount

So, accompanied by the bell ringing and the sounds of a gong, visitors to the Golden Mountain rise to the top point of their route - to the golden pagoda.

Viewpoint at the pagoda

Around the pagoda is a large observation platform 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 platform

An internal staircase leads to the middle of the pagoda. After passing through the narrow corridors, you find yourself in its most sacred part. Here stands a golden sarcophagus, it contains part of the ashes of the Buddha, which was once brought from India. What part of the body is this dust from, the Thais great mystery Let her stay with them.

At the golden sarcophagus

In November of each 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 was summed up. I can imagine how beautiful it is to meet the dawn here, or see off the sunset! Also, meditate and dream!

Panorama of Bangkok