Thailand’s Temple Trail

Considering that 95% of Thais are Buddhists, it is not surprising that Thailand is strewn with thousands of temples or ‘wat’. It is easy to suffer from ‘temple fatigue’ because of this fact and take for granted the experience, so make sure instead to sample the best of Thailand in small portions and not just gobble up whatever is on the table.

Here’s a list of temples you must see first (before temple overdose sets in), either because they have superlative character, are historically important, or simply visually pleasing.

Wat Arun

One of the most photographed icons of Bangkok is the Temple of Dawn. It is a breathtaking sight to behold as it glistens over the Chao Phraya River at sunrise, but even more dramatic if it is viewed at sunset. Wat Arun is also equally famous for the floral design of its “prang” (towers) which are made of porcelain pieces imported from China.

Wat Phra Kaew

Bangkok’s Grand Palace consists of many buildings that were constructed organically over the last 200 years. One of these buildings is the “Temple of the Emerald Buddha”, revered as the most sacred wat in Thailand. The Emerald Buddha, said to have been carved out of a single block of jade, safeguards the Thais and the well-being of the Siamese society. Wat Phra Kaew, being a shrine to the Kingdom’s revered icons – the monarchy and the founder of their religion – is so ornately designed that it makes Mayan ruins pale in comparison.

Wat Pho

Buddha statues usually sit cross-legged, but the gigantic image at Wat Pho, the largest in Thailand, is a Reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf. While picture-taking of the image is allowed, it is quite difficult to capture all of its 26 meters in one single frame. For tourists desiring to learn Thai massage (or get one after all the temple trekking) while in Bangkok, Wat Pho’s massage school is world-famous.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol

Another reclining Buddha can be found in the ancient Siam (old Thailand) capital of Ayutthaya. This temple is more than 600 years old, and is a short distance from the ruins of the old kingdom.

Wat Chedi Luang

Another temple built six centuries ago, this wat in Chiang Mai once housed the revered Emerald Buddha (now housed in Wat Phra Kaew). Elements of Lanna culture can still be seen in this temple after the 1990s reconstruction that transformed the wat into a Central Thai style instead of its northern origins.

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in Southern Thailand, this wat’s earliest structures were built in the 6th century in Srivijayan style. Wat Mahathat contains the relics of Buddha, and is consequently one of the most sacred sites in Thailand.

Wat Lan Khuat

Also known as Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew or The Temple of a Million Bottles in Sisaket province in northeast Thailand, this temple has sparked interest because it is made of 1.5 million green and brown glass bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Everything in the temple – from prayer rooms to powder rooms – is made of glass bottles wedged in concrete. A mosaic of Buddha is likewise made from recycled beer bottle caps, adding artistic value to the temple. This qualifies the structure as a feat of creative genius worthy of being named one of Thailand’s must-see architecture.

Photos by Mark Fischer, D.Alyoshin, swifant, fry_theonly, bfick, Tevaprapas Makklay and Mark Fischer

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Article by Chris

Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.

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