Bangkok Temples

Bangkok Thai Buddhist Temples

• These temples are Thai Buddhist temples. Worshipers here are Buddhists. Buddha taught that there are no Gods, that people are responsible for their actions, must appreciate the future consequences and must learn to cope in the world where their understanding of matters can be confused by their own desires or delusions.
  
• Accordingly these Thai Buddhist temples depict images of the Buddha in a detached and relaxed form. The artistic form and posture can depend upon the period in Thai history, as discussed elsewhere in this Site. However to attract worshipers some temples also display other images of other faiths, such as those from Hinduism and others from Chinese faiths.

[1] Wat Phrao Kaeo [ the Temple of the Emerald Buddha ]

• The Temple of the Emerald Buddha [ Wat Phrao Kaeo ] is the Royal Chapel adjoining the Grand Palace. In the past the Emerald Buddha has been located in numerous locations including Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Prabang Luang in Laos. In the past the Emerald Buddha has been located in numerous locations including
  
• Wat Phrao Kaeo contains the finest examples of Rattanakosin art and architecture. It is the finest art and architecture site in Thailand.

[2] Wat Pho

• Wat Pho is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok. It is located at the south side of the Grand Palace and is protected by massive walls through which only two of the 16 gates are open to the public. The first temple was built in 16th C.

[3] Wat Arun

• Wat Arun [ the Temple of Dawn ] is a riverside Temple on the West side of the Chao Phraya River almost opposite Wat Po on the East side. It is constructed of brick on the place where General Taksin [ later King Taksin ] and his surviving army landed after the sacking of Ayuthaya.

[4] Wat Suthat

• Wat Suthat has an outstanding chapel [ bot ] reputed to be the tallest in Bangkok. This temple has an impressive array of sites, the surrounding galleries of gilded Buddhas, the large hall [ viharn ] and the principal Buddha image caste in the 14th C at Sukhothai and brought to Bangkok by Rama I by boat down the Chao Phraya River.

[5] Mon Temple Bangkok
[6] Wat Saket Golden Mount Temple

• Wat Saket [ Golden Mount ] is a Buddhist Temple built on a very large formation protruding into the sky in the western side of the City of Bangkok in Pom Prap Sattru District. It is located between Boriphat and Lan Luang Roads and is open from 8 am to 9 pm daily.

[7] Wat Suwarannaram

• The design and construction of Wat Suwannaram is of the Ayutthaya period before the destruction of Ayutthaya and all its buildings.
• It has undergone restoration twice, once under Rama I and again in the time of Rama V. It was originally a monastery called Wat Thong [ '' Golden Wat '' ], again later named Wat Suwannaram [ '' Golden Monastery '' ] by King Rama I.

[8] Wat Benchamabophit White Marble Wat

• Wat Benchamabophit in Dusit is a relatively modern Temple designed to serve the Royal household. Apart from seeing the well proportioned and lovely temple layout, Wat Benchamabophit also houses the most impressive collection of Thai Buddhist Bronzes

[9] Buddhaisawan Chapel

• The Buddhaisawan Chapel was built in 1795 and stands in the grounds of the National Museum of Bangkok. The Building and grounds were originally part of the Front Palace of the deputy King of Siam. Here is an excellent collection of Early Rattanakosin mural art.

Bangkok Chinese Temples

• There are numerous Chinese Temples in Bangkok as well as numerous displays in image form of Chinese Deities. A ''Deity'' is not a ''God'' in the Christian sense but a being of special importance worthy of belief in and something to respect and follow what it represents. Hence there is no conflict of interest in worshiping various ''Deities'' in Chinese mythology or history.
• What each Deity represents needs to be defined. Not all are the same. The Deities in the Chinese temples described here can also be seen throughout Bangkok and many parts of Thailand where there is a Chinese presence.

[1] Chinese Temples in China Town
[2] Tien Fa Charity Foundation
[3] Wat Traimit Bangkok

• Wat Traimit is an interesting complex of various deities. Wat Traimit is located near Odeon traffic circle where one can see the traditional Chinese Gate marking the entrance to China town in Bangkok.
• When entering the front gate you are for confronted with an array of statues of various Hindu deities and other mythical characters from Hindu mythology all of which are the subject of adoration and worship by the attendees. It is easy not to find in the rear of the Wat grounds the Buddhist temple containing the world 's largest solid gold Buddha.
• This Buddha image is 15 feet tall and weighs some 5.5 tons. This Buddha image was caste in the 13 C in the Sukhothai art style and at some later time was covered in cement to hide its true solid gold form.

[4] Wat Mangkon Kamalawa

• Wat Mangkon Kamalawa in China Town Bangkok is on Charoen Road. The Chinese name is Leng Noei Yi. 
• The Thai name is Mangkon Kamalatawa. It was built in 1871 and comprises a series of Chinese Buddhist Temples and Taoist deities in the total complex. The style is Southern Chinese.[5] Wat Chakrawat
  

[6] The Guan Yu Temple

• The Guan Yu Shrine China Town Bangkok is interesting, not for the shabby temple site and the fact you can not take pictures inside, but to see Chinese people worshipping the image of a red faced warrior of some 1,800 years ago and his horse.

Bangkok Hindu Temples

• The Hindu situation is far more difficult to appreciate. Here there are many Gods and often their function in the order of Gods is confusing to the non Indian mind. We refer you to this detail here.

[1] The Hindu Shrines at Ratchaprasong Intersection