Not far from Wat Saket, the Golden Mountain Temple, lies Wat Suthat, one of Bangkok's ten first-class royal temples. King Rama I began construction in 1807. Under King Rama II, construction and decoration continued, but the temple wasn't completed until 1847 under King Rama III. Its full name is Wat Suthat Thep Wararam, but it is commonly known as Wat Suthat. The temple houses a Buddha statue called Phra Sri Sakyamuni, which originated in Sukhothai province. On the lower terrace stand 28 Chinese pagodas, symbolizing the 28 Buddhas born on Earth. The murals in the main chapel depict the 24 previous incarnations of Buddha. They employ a technique of Western painting with perspective, unique to this temple. The two red pillars of the giant swing, rising between Wat Suthat and Bangkok's City Hall, are an impressive sight at 21.15 meters high. The original giant swing dated back to 1784, but was replaced by a new one in 2004.

The temple is easy to find; it's located on the grounds of the giant swing. It's a very peaceful place, as Wat Suthat, although beautiful, is visited by only a few tourists. Entrance fee: 100 THB. Open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.

To reach Wat Suthat by public transport, the best option is to take the MRT subway in Bangkok and get off at Sam Yot station. From there, it's just a 5-minute walk to the temple. Alternatively, you could visit the Bangkok Correction Museum in the city center and then stroll to the nearby Golden Mount Temple, which is well worth a visit.

Wat Suthat is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Suthat? The easiest way to reach Wat Suthat is by public transport. Take the MRT subway in Bangkok and get off at Sam Yot station. From there, it's just a 5-minute walk to the temple. Alternatively, you can visit the Bangkok Correction Museum in the heart of the city and then walk to the nearby Temple of the Golden Mount, which is well worth a visit.