Bangkok is a land of splendor and diversity. Much of this splendor comes from the amazing architectural heritage that Bangkok is home to. Being a predominantly Buddhist nation, the country is populated with many temples and shrines, all decorated lavishly and serving the purpose of being a place of reverence for more than half the populace. The temples in Bangkok are very extravagant. The Buddha statues in this South Asian nation are gilded, made out of gold and embedded with precious stones. Certain statues are sculpted out of precious green jade and adorned with gems and gold. So, it is no surprise that the temples themselves are lavish and beautiful.
Wat Suthat is arguably one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok. Popular for its amazing roofline, large golden Buddha, intricate frescoes and the giant swing at the entrance, the temple is a place of spirituality and wonder and it is truly a work of art. The temple was constructed by King Rama I (1782-1804) who is also credited as being the creator of the Chakri Dynasty. The giant gold Buddha statue found in the wihaan or main hall of the temple was brought to Bangkok from Sukothai by King Rama I. Upon arrival, the statue was paraded through the streets and seven days of festivities were declared before the statue was finally mounted up.
A scene that catches your eye at first sight is the giant red teak arch that stands impressively against the Bangkok skyline with the backdrop of the temple. This arch is all that remains of the giant swing that was carved by King Rama II. The arch was made to thank God Shiva for a bountiful rice harvest. In the days of the old, the Minister of Rice and Brahman astrologers would a lead a parade commemorating a good harvest and teams of men would ride the swing to heights as great as 82 feet. Due to the danger imposed by this activity, the swing ceremony was discontinued from 1932.
Wat Suthat covers an area of ten acres and the main hall houses a bronze Buddha statue over eight meters tall. The base of the statue contains the ashes of King Rama VIII and the all walls of the temple are covered in intricate paintings depicting Jataka Tales from Buddhism as well as other stories. These murals show transitional styles, with Western and Thai types of cuisine both adapted and incorporated into the vibrant frescoes and the columns of the temple are painted with stories about the early history of Bangkok. The temple is open from 8.30 am to 9.00 pm daily and it welcomes all visitors to its sacred milieu.
If you are planning to visit the temple, the city of Silom in Bangkok offers you excellent accommodation. For a luxury hotel Bangkok does not have any backward options. For the best in Silom hotels Bangkok offers you Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, an excellent choice of housing completely with top range facilities and services, aiming only make your stay in Bangkok pleasant and comfortable.