Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan (The Golden Mount)

History & Significance

Originally named Wat Sakae during the Ayutthaya period, the temple was restored by King Rama I, who renamed it Wat Saket (meaning "to wash hair") in 1782. The name commemorates the ceremonial bath the King took here upon returning from Cambodia before ascending the throne. The construction of the Golden Mount (Suwan Banphot) began under King Rama III as a grand prang but collapsed. King Rama IV modified the design into an artificial hill topped with a chedi, which was completed during the reign of King Rama V. The chedi enshrines authentic Buddha relics excavated from Kapilavastu, India.

Highlights & What to See

The temple features several remarkable architectural and spiritual highlights:

• Suwan Banphot (The Golden Mount): A 77-meter-tall artificial hill. Climbing the steps leads to the golden chedi housing the sacred Buddha relics.
• The Ordination Hall (Phra Ubosot): Located on the east side, this Ayutthaya-era structure was restored under King Rama I and King Rama III. It features traditional Thai architecture with a three-tiered roof and a wooden pediment carving of Vishnu riding Garuda. It is surrounded by a cloister containing 163 Buddha images.
• Phra Phuttha Mongkhon Chinnasi Wachiramuni: The main Buddha image inside the ordination hall. Named by King Rama X in 2022, this Ayutthaya-style meditation Buddha is made of stucco-covered sandstone and finished with gold leaf.
• Murals: The interior walls of the ordination hall feature beautiful murals originally painted during the reign of King Rama III, depicting Jataka tales, the Three Worlds (heaven, earth, and hell), and the defeat of Mara.

Visitor Information

Wat Saket is open daily from 07:00 to 19:00. Admission is free for Thai citizens and 100 THB for foreign visitors. Every year during the Loy Krathong festival, the temple hosts a famous 7-day and 7-night celebration to worship the Buddha relics, attracting massive crowds.

How to Get There

The temple is located at 344 Chakkraphatdipong Road, near the Phan Fa Lilat Intersection and Lan Luang Road, alongside Khlong Maha Nak in the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district of Bangkok.