Buddhism has been entwined in the history of Thailand since the 228 BC and through time, the Thai people, as a way of expressing their devotion and faith, has created many phenomenal works of art dedicated to Buddhism. The Temple of the Golden Buddha or Wat Traimit that houses the world’s largest solid gold statue is one of the best examples of this undying faith and adoration.
The temple, located at the end of Yaowarat Road of Bangkok’s Chinatown, was built to house the magnificent Golden Buddha statue that gives it its name and also contains the Bangkok Chinatown Heritage Centre. The Anantara Baan Rajprasong Bangkok Serviced Suites, a premier among luxury serviced suites Bangkok, is one you should consider staying at as it is conveniently located just approximately 13 minutes away from the Temple of the Golden Buddha.
It is uncertain from where and when the Golden Buddha statue was actually created, but characteristics such as the egg-shaped head suggests it belongs to the Sukhothai Dynasty style of the 13th-14th centuries. Depicted in the traditional pose of Bhumisparsha Mudra, the Buddha is sculptured to perfection with his face emanating pure kindness and serenity. The statue towers a staggering 9.8 feet with a weight of 5.5 tonnes.
How the statue was discovered in modern times is most intriguing as well. At some point it was completely covered with a thick layer of stucco to prevent it from being robbed but in 1955 when it was being moved to its current location, the statue fell to the ground by accident and the gold surface underneath was exposed. Since this discovery was made very close to the commemoration of the twenty-fifth Buddhist Era many Buddhists regarded it as a miracle.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
