Bangkok, known to the Thais as the ‘City of Angels’, is one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. It has been the most visited city in the world in recent years and fascinates by the huge contrast between skyscrapers set among modest houses and Buddhist temples of particular beauty.

Being a very spiritual country where Buddhism is the majority religion, Thailand has over 30,000 temples, of which a few thousand can be visited in Bangkok alone.

Buddhist temples are one of the most spectacular attractions in Asia and no trip to Bangkok would be complete without visiting at least one. Thais consider them as sacred places, but their architecture and special details attract tourists from all over the world who are fascinated by the beauty of Thailand. Buddhist temples in Thailand are divided into different categories and the complexes they belong to are called wat. They are inhabited and maintained by monks who lead a modest lifestyle, living and eating only on the donations they receive daily from the community before sunrise.

Near the entrance to Chinatown, Wat Traimit Temple houses one of the most famous Buddha statues. It is called Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon (but is known by tourists as the Golden Buddha), is 3 meters high, and weighs 5.5 tons. It dates from the 13th-14th centuries during the Sukhothai Dynasty and is made entirely of gold. For almost 200 years it was covered with a layer of stucco and coloured glass, until 1955 when it was dropped during a move and some of the glass cracked, thus revealing its true value.

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon was built in the 17th century. King Rama III turned it into a place of learning, specializing in science, literature, religion, and the art of massage, It is the oldest temple in Bangkok, but also the first university in Thailand and a center of traditional medicine.

The temple houses one of the most famous statues in Bangkok. The Statue of Reclining Buddha is 15 meters high and 46 meters long and is completely covered with gold leaf. In front of the statue there are 108 bronze bowls in which, at the end of the daily prayers, the monks throw in each one of them a coin. Most tourists follow their customs, and the donations received are used to take care of the temple.

Several areas can be visited in the complex, including a gold-plated Buddha altar and crystals, 95 pagodas decorated with ceramic mosaics, and various Buddha appearances in the lotus position.

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Nestled within Bangkok’s Grand Palace complex, Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, stands as Thailand’s most revered temple. Serving as the epicenter for significant religious and cultural ceremonies, this sacred site began its construction in 1783 by the order of King Rama I. Over the centuries, successive kings have each contributed to its beauty, ensuring its continued historical significance.

Here you can admire the jade statue of the Buddha, considered one of the most sacred appearances of the prophet. It dates from the 15th century, was discovered in northern Thailand, has a height of 66 cm, and a width of 48 cm. During King Rama I the statue received two sets of clothing made of gold, and then during King Rama III, a third set. These are changed at the beginning of each season, and the ceremony is considered very important for the Thai people, being an event attended by people from all over the country.

Known as The Marble Temple, Wat Benjamaborpitr was built in 1900, during the reign of King Rama V. The outer walls and inner courtyard are completely covered in Carrara marble imported from Italy, and the entrance to the temple is “guarded” by large statues. which depicts two lions between four massive marble columns.

According to the Thais, here can be visited the most beautiful statue of the Buddha in Thailand, called Phra Buddha Chinnarat, under which is buried the ashes of King Rama V.

Located on the banks of the Charo Phraya River, Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is the tallest temple in Thailand, with its central pagoda standing 80 meters high. It was constructed in 1768 by King Thaksin on the foundation of an ancient temple from the Ayutthaya era. Despite predating Bangkok’s status as the capital, Wat Arun remains one of the city’s most significant temples.