Wat Saket
“The temple of the Golden Mount”
The Wat Saket just outside the old Rattanakosin island area is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples dating back to the Ayutthaya era, which lasted until 1767. The temple was then named Wat Sakae. When King Rama I became the first ruler of the Rattanakosin Kingdom he ordered the temple to be restored and renamed it Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, or Wat Saket for short.
The structure that Wat Saket is best known for is its 80 meter high hill called “Golden Mount” and the huge gilded stupa on top of it. It was once the highest point in Bangkok.
The hill was created during the reign of King Rama III who ordered a large chedi to be build in the Wat Saket temple complex. During the construction however, the chedi collapsed because the soil it was standing on was too soft to support the weight. Years later King Rama IV had the hill reinforced and made higher with large numbers of logs to prevent the soil from sinking any further, and he had a small stupa build on top. The large gilded stupa existing today dates from the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). In the 1940’s the hill was reinforced again using concrete.
The climb to the top of the mount
To reach the stupa on top of the Golden Mount requires a 318 steps climb up the hill. On one of the platforms on the way to the top you will find a line of large prayer bells that Buddhist people strike producing a very deep tone. Once upstairs you will have great views of Bangkok in all directions.
The huge chedi contains relics of the Buddha, that were brought over from India. The Wat Saket was used to cremate the deceased who were too poor to afford a funeral or cremation. When an epidemic hit Bangkok during the reign of King Rama II, the remains of tens of thousands of poor people were brought here to be cremated.
The Wat Saket temple itself is located at the base of the hill. Most visitors miss it, just climbing to the stupa on top of the hill. In the temple complex you will find an ordination hall or ubosot, a viharn, a Ho Trai where Buddhist scriptures are kept and the monks living quarters.
A Visit to the Golden Mount, Bangkok
Rising over the old quarter of Bangkok, the Golden Mount gleams as one of the city’s most visible landmarks. A fantastic and cheap excursion, the Golden Mount offers up a glimpse of culture, spirituality and inspiring city views. It’s an easy climb to the top, where you can take in a 360-panorama of old Bangkok’s temples and the downtown skyscape.