Bangkok’s temples – also known as wats - are the primary tourist attractions of the capital and draw every year millions of visitors from all around the world. Most of the beautiful and breathtaking wats date back more than 200 years in history, making them an even more mysterious and magical place to visit. With their awe-inspiring architecture and glittering decorations, these temples are like no other – and a visit to Bangkok would defiantly not be completed without seeing at least two of them.

Being the capital of a very Buddhist country, temples in Bangkok are spread all over the city and its suburbs. Many small communities even have their own temple, marking the center of the area. Visiting all these places would take ages. Therefore we made a list of Bangkok’s most important, sacred and significant wats which belong in every tourist’s itinerary – ensuring to make the most out of your visit to Bangkok.
 

Wat Phra Kaew, better known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located within a separate complex in the compound of the Grand Palace The 945,000 square meter ground encompass over 100 buildings that represent more than 200 years of royal history and architectural experimentation. Most of the architecture, royal or sacred, can be classified Ratanakosin or old Bangkok style, with minor variations such as the Emerald Buddha for which Wat Phra Keaw is named.

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Wat Arun, or better known as the Temple of Dawn, is named after the Indian God of dawn, Aruna, and belongs to Bangkok’s most famous and sacred landmarks. It consists of a massive Phra Prang (Khmer-style tower) and is surrounded by four smaller ones on each corner of the tower. The most attractive structure is the approximately 82 meter high central prang which symbolizes the legendary Mount Meru, the terrestrial representation of the thirty-three heavens.
 

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The Wat Pho temple dates back to 200 years in history and was built before the foundation of the current capital Bangkok. Covering an area of over 20 acres of land, it is said to be the largest as well as the oldest temple in Bangkok. The statue of the Reclining Buddha, said to be one of the largest statue worldwide, stands at 46 meters long and 15 meters high. Beautifully gold plated, it illustrates the transition of Buddha into the stage of nirvana.
 

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Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha, is situated at one end of Chinatown, very near to the Hualamphong Train Station. The temple is believed to exist since the 13th century. Although Wat Traimit itself pales in comparison to other temples in Bangkok with its rather modest architecture, it is the 900 years old Golden Buddha inside that attracts visitors from all around the world. The pure-gold statue is nearly 10 feet high and weighs over 5 tons, and has a worth of 14 million US Dollars.
 

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Wat Suthat belongs to one of Thailand’s six most important temples. It is mainly famous for the Phra Sri Sakayamuni Buddha statue, the giant swing in front and for its other architectural wonders. The Phra Buddha Shakyamuni is an 8 meter tall bronze statue from the 13th-century which was brought all the way from the ancient capital Sukhothai. It is considered as one of the largest and most beautiful Sukhothai period Buddha images in existence.
 

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Proclaimed as one of the oldest temples in Thailand, Wat Mahathat, also known as the temple of the Great Relic, was founded in 1782. History has it that this wat was built before the foundation of the city of Bangkok. Visitors to the temple are greeted by large and sprawling gardens and an entire line of large Buddha statues. It is a great place for those who are interested in Thai culture. The peace and tranquility surrounding the temple makes it a happy tourist destination.
 

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Wat Saket is a well-known tourist destination in Bangkok, and is famous for its 260 feet tall Golden Mount, the towering gold chedi, which once used to be the highest point of the capital. he exhausting climb to the top is well worth it as you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of old Rattanakosin Island and the myriad city of Bangkok. The temple itself belongs originally to the Ayutthaya era, when it was called Wat Sakae.
 

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Apart from Bangkok's most famous and sacred temples such as Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, there are many more smaller wats, each one more beautiful and breathtaking the the other, which are worth visiting. They are a great place to visit if you've got some spare time, and offer a great insight into traditional Thai culture and customs.
 

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