All the pictures on this page were made with a Sony Mavica® FD71 digital camera.

Thailand

Click to see the Thai Proverb of the Day!

Temples in (and around) Bangkok (Part 2)

Bangkok has hundreds of Temples ("Wats"). Once I thought it would be possible to photograph them all (over the years). I know better now. On these pages you find some of the most famous and beautiful Temples of Bangkok and direct surroundings.

***

Although I advise to browse through these pages in order,
you can directly jump to any of the Temples shown on these pages by using the Temples Menu on the left.

Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat is a Temple worth visiting, but probably it is mostly known because of the "Giant Swing". Here, in the past, ceremonies were held, during which a boat was attached to the swing which was then moved heavily. This has caused several accidents and finally these ceremonies were stopped. The swing is still standing there and can be seen from the wide surroundings, as I tried to show on the picture above.
By the way: The wood from which the "Giant Swing" was built was donated by Louis Leonowens, the son of Anna Leonowens, the Anna from "Anna and the King" and "The King and I".
Read more about Anna on my page about Anna Leonowens. You will find a link in my menu frame.

The Buddha Image inside Wat Suthat is impressive, as I find most Thai Buddha Images. The model is slightly different from what you mostly see. So take an extra look at it. The light there is very low, so I doubt if you can bring home a decent picture of this Buddha. (This one was heavily over-lighted by photo manipulating software).
The murals in Wat Suthat are of great beauty. Don't walk out, like most visitors do, without looking at them closely! On the picture above you see a detail of the murals.

Every Temple is surrounded by -what I call- "cornerstones". They mark the Holy Ground on which the Temple is situated. Often, like in Wat Suthat, they are placed inside small buildings, that are interesting on their own. That is why I show you a picture of one of the cornerstones of Wat Suthat. Make it a good custom to look for them at every Temple!

(top of page)

Wat Rakhang

Wat Rakhang ("Rakhang" means "Temple bell") is situated along the Chao Phraya River, not very far from Wat Arun.
The Temple is not only interesting for its Buddha Image and its fascinating murals (of which a detail is shown above), but also for its library building. Wat Rakhang dates from the Ayutthaya-period, but was extensively rebuilt during the reign of King Rama I, who used to live in the part that is now the library building, before he became King and thus founded the Chakri Dynasty.

This is the former house of King Rama I, now a small museum. Take some time to go there and look inside. Many tourists overlook it.

Inside this library building museum you find old Buddhist books (not shaped like we know them, but with the pages folded together into a sort of fan), a fine picture of King Rama I and some fine antique furniture, like the library chest shown of the left hand side picture above. As I said, this -free of charge- museum is worth a visit.
Wat Rakhang, by the way, can easily be reached by Express Boat Service. Visit Wat Arun afterwards. It is close by.

But before you leave, walk around in the Temple grounds. Do not forget to have a close look there at the large white stupa (you hardly can miss it). What you could miss, however, are the four gold plated Buddha Images inside the caves of the stupa, as shown on the right hand side picture above.

(top of page)

***

Click here to continue

Any remarks about this page?

e-mail me!

Or us use my feedback options

Do you like this site?

Privacy Statement for this Site

Did you sign our Guestbook?

Did you visit our Message Board?