Wat Saket in Bangkok - The Temple of the Golden Mount
Wat Saket 'The temple of the Golden Mount'just located outside the old Rattanakosin island area Bangkok, built on an artificial man-made hill, is a sacred pilgrimage site especially during Loy Krathong in November. You will be able to witness the annual, week-long fair held by the temple.
The temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, the featured mature trees and typical Buddhist buildings such as ordination hall, main chapel and library are telling the old stories to you. The temple's history can be traced back Ayutthaya period (1350-1767 AD). And it was renovated during Rama I's reign (1782-1809).
The Golden Mount at Wat Saket
Built on an artificial 80-meter high mountain, the Golden Mountain is the most famous landmark of Wat Saket which formed from the debris of a collapsed chedi ordered to be built by King Rama III. The structure of Wat Saket is very distinct and it was once the highest point in Bangkok. It is also a very scared pilgrimage site during the weeklong worshipping period during the Loy krathong. A journey to the top of the mount requires a climb up of more than 300 steps. The steps encircle the chedi as a loosely coiled snake. You will find an unusual cemetery near the base of the mountain sheltered in overgrown trees and vines before your climbing, Wat Saket served as the primary crematorium and the dumping ground for more than 60,000 plague victims in the late 18th century. Due to this dark history, its surrounding area become known as ‘Ghost Gate’. During your climbing, you will find several resting spots or viewports, then when you approach the top of the mountain, you will be welcomed by a wall of bells and panoramas of Bangkok history. On the top of the mountain, you will be rewarded with an amazing 360-degree view of Bangkok, especially when you going up at sunset. The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha is to the west; the Rama VI bridge with its golden suspending cables; the towers in the business district of Bangkok is in the east.
You might like to book: Thai Temple Tours
Temple Fair at the Golden Mountain
Wat Saket hosts an annual enormous temple fair during Loy Krathong in November. During this period, in the evening, a candlelight procession of worshippers winding up from bottom of mountain to the top. The golden chedi is draped in massive bright red cloth symbolizing the auspiciousness of the festival. It is a rare opportunity to experience such a large-scale temple fair. The decorative flags, colored lanterns as well as the fairground games, food vendors make the place alive. During this time, the fair-goers, worshippers will pack the grounds of the temple from early evening to midnight for a whole week. It will be hard for you to find a room walk. If you go after sunset, you will definitely queue up very long, so please go as early as possible.
You might like to book: Thai Temple Tours
Opening hours of Wat Saket
Wat Saket and the Golden Mount are open every day from 9am until 7pm.
Best time to visit: Early mornings or Evenings to avoid heat, especially during the festival.
Things you should be aware of when visiting the Wat Saket:
Wat Saket is a functioning Thai Buddhist temple in Bangkok. The administration of this temple commands the visitors to dress up in a respectful manner. It means men are instructed to wear full-length pants along either a short-sleeved or any long-sleeved shirts. However sleeveless shirts and tank tops are strictly prohibited. The administration instructs the women to dress up in knee-length skirts or pants and revealing clothes shall be strictly avoided.
Photos are allowed to take in any area of the complex.
Wat Saket grounds will get very crowded during the annual Loy Krathong festival.
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