If you come to Bangkok, be sure to check it out at least once. Summary of temples around the Royal Palace

Hello, this is Macchan. Songkran, the traditional Chinese New Year event, has come to an end in Thailand, and in Japan, a long holiday of up to 10 days is about to begin. There may be many people visiting Bangkok for the first time during this Golden Week. In this article, we have put together a list of temples near Bangkok's Grand Palace that you should definitely visit on your first trip to Bangkok.

Wat Phra Kaeo

In 1772, in preparation for the advance of the Burmese army, the then king (Rama I) began construction at the current location, and it was completed two years later in 1784.

The official name is "Wat Phra Siratanasasadharam". The principal image enshrined in the main hall is made of jade stone that shines beautifully in green, and is also known as the ``Emerald Temple.'' It is a place that not only foreign tourists but also local worshipers visit every day.

Highlights of Wat Phra Kaew

Beautiful green Buddha statue enshrined in the main image

The beautiful emerald-colored Buddha statue enshrined in the main hall is a must-see.

This temple is built in the Ayutthaya style, and the Buddha statue is about 70cm tall and 50cm wide, making it smaller than the principal images of other temples. Three times a year, at the turn of the seasons, a costume changing ceremony is held, in which the king himself changes the costume of the Emerald Buddha.

The murals inside the main hall are covered with Buddhist depictions depicting the Buddhist cosmology and the life of the Buddha, making the Emerald Buddha's atmosphere even more mysterious.

Chalk Royal Palace (Chakri Maha Prasat)

On the same premises as Wat Phra Kaew is the Royal Palace (Chakri Maha Prasat), where successive kings of the current dynasty have lived. It was built during the era of King Rama V to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the current Chakri dynasty, and was completed in 1882. The palace building is a perfect combination of British Victorian style and traditional Thai style.

Basic information about Wat Phra Kaew

TEL	TEL:0-2623-5500
Opening hours	08:30-15:30
Regular holiday	None *However, it may be closed on royal holidays and Buddhist events.
Admission fee	500B

Wat Phra Kaew location and access

scheduled bus

The following bus routes run to the vicinity of the Royal Palace.
1,2,3,9,12,15,25,39,44,47,48,53,59, 82,201,506,507,508,512 etc.

If you go by boat

For the Chao Phraya Express Boat, it is about a 3-minute walk from Pier No. 9 "Tha Chang".

Points to note when sightseeing

As a general rule, wearing clothing that exposes a lot of skin, such as tank tops, shorts, and sleeveless clothes, is not allowed in royal facilities.

There will be a clothing check at the entrance, and if you are unsuitable, you will need to rent a costume. Waiting in line to rent costumes can also be a waste of time, so be prepared in advance by bringing a light hoodie.

Temple of Dawn Wat Arun

This Wat Arun also appeared in a novel by Showa era literary great Yukio Mishima. It was considered a royal temple during the Thonburi dynasty before the Chakri dynasty, but the Emerald Buddha and its royal temple functions were moved to Wat Phra Kaew on the opposite bank.

Highlights of Wat Arun

The symbol of Wat Arun is a large and small stupa.

The beauty of Wat Arun, which can be seen from across the Chao Phraya River, is also featured in Yukio Mishima's novel ``Temple of Dawn.''

The symmetrical structure made up of large and small pagodas is breathtakingly beautiful both when lit up by the morning sun and when it is lit up after sunset. There are a total of five pagodas, consisting of a large pagoda located in the center and four smaller pagodas surrounding it. It is said to have been built between 1809 and 1850 between King Rama II and III, and the form of the great pagoda is said to have been modeled after Mount Kailasa, the sacred place where the Hindu god Shiva resides. .

The surface of the pagoda is covered with countless pottery shards, which shine when exposed to sunlight. In addition, the walls of the pagoda are covered with elaborate decorations, and its glittering exterior is a delight to those who see it.

Basic information about Wat Arun

location	158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600 Thailand
TEL	TEL:0-2891-2185
Opening hours	08:00-18:00
Regular holiday	none
Admission fee	50B

Wat Arun location and access

If you go by boat

A ferry departs from the N8 "Tha Thian" pier near Wat Pho. The fare is 4B and the flights are approximately every 10 minutes.

Wat Pho, the headquarters of Thai massage

This temple was built by King Rama I in 1788.

This temple is said to be the first university in Thailand, and is also famous as the headquarters of Thai massage. The golden reclining Buddha statue is also here. There is Wat Pho Traditional Medical School on the premises, where you can actually receive traditional Thai massage techniques. 260B for 30 minutes, which is a little more expensive than a typical massage parlor.

Highlights of Wat Pho

I'm sure it will benefit you. A golden statue of Nirvana.

Mother-of-pearl work on the soles of the feet of the Great Reclining Buddha.

The highlight of Wat Pho is the huge reclining Buddha statue.

The size is 46m in length and 15m in height. It is so large that it is difficult to capture its entire body on camera. A large golden Buddha lies elegantly in a shape that fits perfectly into the huge hall. On the soles of the feet, 108 detailed mother-of-pearl inlays depict teachings related to Buddhism, including images of Mt. Sumeru, offerings, and gods. Please pay attention not only to the golden body but also to the soles of the feet.

Basic information about Wat Pho

location	2 Sanam Chai Rd, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200 Thailand
TEL	TEL:0-2226-0335
Opening hours	08:00-18:30 *The Hall of the Reclining Buddha is open from 8:30-16:00
Regular holiday	none
Admission fee	200B (includes 1 bottle of drinking water)
Website	http://www.watpho.com/

Wat Pho location and access

If you go by bus

The following bus routes stop nearby:
1,2,3,6,9,12,25,32,44,47,48,53,508,512

If you go by boat

About 3 minutes walk from N8 "Tha Tian" pier.

The landmark is a large torii-like monument. Wat Stat.

One of the royal temples built by King Rama I. Construction began in 1807 and took nearly 30 years to complete. The pedestal of the Buddha statue in the chapel located in the center of the precincts contains the remains of King Rama VIII (grandfather of the current king) who passed away in 1946.

Highlights of Wat Suthat

Torii: No, this is ○○.

Towering in front of Wat Suthat is a red structure that at first glance resembles the torii gate of a Japanese shrine.

This is the prop of a swing named Thao Chin Cha. It is 21 meters high and was built in 1784, prior to the construction of Wat Suthat. In the past, every February, a Brahmin priest would perform a ritual of climbing on a small boat-shaped swing suspended here and shaking it vigorously to retrieve the bag of money at the end of the mast, but fatal accidents were a constant occurrence. , which was discontinued during the reign of King Rama VII.

Today, the parts where people ride have been removed, and only the pillars remain as a symbol.

Watt Stat basic information

location	146 Bamrung Mueang Rd, Khwaeng Wat Ratchabophit, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200 Thailand
TEL	TEL:0-2224-9845
Opening hours	08:00-18:00
Regular holiday	none
Admission fee	100B

Wat Suthat location and access

If you go by bus

The following bus routes stop nearby:
15,35,47,48,508 etc.

It is about 25 minutes walk from Wat Phra Kaew and about 10 minutes walk from Democracy Monument.

Wat Sraket

A building that looks like a fortress, built on a small hill along the canal.

This is Wat Saket, an old temple that has existed since the Ayutthaya Dynasty. ``Saket'' is a royal term meaning haircut, and it comes from the fact that the first king of the current royal family, Rama I, wore this haircut for a ceremony when establishing the Chakri dynasty. The conspicuous golden pagoda is called ``Phu Khao Thong (Golden Hill)'' and was built by King Rama III in imitation of Wat Phu Khao Thong in Ayutthaya.

King Rama IV built a pagoda on top of the pagoda, and around 1950, the hill was solidified with concrete and the pagoda was decorated with gold, giving it its current style. The top of the tower is a corridor that offers a panoramic view of Bangkok.

Basic information about Wat Saket

location	Baan Bat Rd, Pomprab Sattru Pai, Bangkok 10100
TEL	TEL:0-2621-0576
Opening hours	07:30-17:30
Regular holiday	none
Admission fee	The precincts are free. Pukao tone is 20B

Wat Saket location and access

If you go by route bus

The following routes operate nearby:
8,15,37,39,44,47,49,60,79,169,512

Overall map of the temples introduced

The location of the temples introduced this time is listed here.

summary

What did you think? A summary of temples near the Royal Palace.
As you may have noticed, "Wat" in Wat ○○ means temple in Thai.
In terms of pronunciation, G is not pronounced and it sounds more like "wa". Why not reflect on the history of Thailand in the birthplace of present-day Thailand, centered around Bangkok? Please be sure to visit this temple once.