Wat Phra Kaeo
Wat Phra Kaeo is the holiest of all Thai temples, and the small greenjade statue of the Buddha, high on its golden altar in the Chapel Royal, is the most sacred image in Thailand. When the statue was first found in 434 it was covered in stucco. Years later, the stucco started to crumble away and several miracles occurred, giving the Buddha a reputation for bringing good fortune. Today, thousands of worshippers pay their respects in front of the statue. The late Ayutthayastyle murals on the surrounding walls depict the lives of Buddha, and the superb door panels with mother-of- pearl inlay illustrate scenes from the . Ramakian, the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana. The golden outer walls and gilded angles reflect the sun, while bells along the roof-line glYe voice to the wind. Admission 10 Hfrll Phra Kaeo (and the Grand Palace Compound)is 200 bath and hours are 08:30 to 11:30,and 13:00 to 15:30. The admission fee indudes entry to the Royay Thai Decorations & Coins Paoilio n (on the same grounds) and 10 botlt Wiman Mek Teak Mansion fwd Abhisrl: Dusit Throne Hall

On the upper terrace, nex to the Chapel Royal, are three other very sacred buildings: the Royal Pantheon, surrounded by gilded male and femal kinaree, half-human figures, which holds the tripitaka, the sacred Buddhist scriptures; and the impressive golden Phra Si Rattana Chedi which houses ashes of Buddha. The nearby model of Cambodia's Angkor Wat is a reminder that Cambodia was once under Thai rule. The whole ground is enclosed bv srallerics decorated with superb murals depicting the Ramakian.

Wat Pho
Chetuphon road divides the grounds in two, with each section surrollIlded by huge white washed walls. The most interesting part is the norther compound, which includes a verv lar e Bot, the hall enclosed by a gallery of Buddha Wat Pho is open daily from 08:00 to 1 7:00; admission is 10 baht. The ticket
booth is closed from noon until 13:00 hours.

images and four Wihan; four large Chedis commemorating t the first three Chakri kings (Rama III has two chedis); 91 smaller Chedis, an old tripitaka . (Buddhist scriptures) library; a sermon hall; the large Wihan, which houses the reclining Buddha, and a school building for classes in Abhidhama (Buddhist philosophy), plus several less important structures. Wat Pho is the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage. A massage school convenes in the afternoons at the eastern endr hour and 100 baht of the com¬pound; a massage costs 180 baht pe for a half-hour. You can also study massage in seven to lO-day courses.

The tremendous reclining Buddha, 46 metres long and 15 metres high, illustrates the passing of the Buddha into parinibbana (post-death nirvana; The figure is modelled out of plaster around a brick core and finished in gold leaf. Mother-of-pearl inlay ornaments the eyes and feet of the colossal image, the feet displaying 108 different auspicious characteristics of a Buddha. The images on display in the four Wihans surrounding the main Bot in the eastern part of the compound are interestinj Particularly beautiful are the Phra Buddha Jinnarat and Phra Buddha jinnasri, in the west anc south chapels, both from Sukhothai, The galleries extending between the four chapels feature no less than 394 gilded Buddha images. King Rama I's remains an interred in the base of the presiding Buddha image in the Bot.

Wat Benchamabophit
This Wat is made of white Carrana marble so hence its tourist name, Marble Temple; this most recent of royal Wats was built at the turn of the century under King Rama V. The largest Bot is a prime example of modern Thai architecture. The courtyard behind the Bot exhibits 53 Buddha images (33 originals and 20 copies), representingfamous images and styles from all over Asia, Thailand and other Buddhist countries. It is an excellent place to watch religious festivals and moonlit processions. Unlike most other temples, monks don't go out seeking alms but are instead visited by merit-makers between 06:00 and 07:00 hours.

Wat Saket & Golden Mountain
Wat Saket is an undistin guished temple except for the Golden Mounon orPhu Khao Thong, on the West side of the grounds. The steep climb up the Golden Mountain puts eveything back in perspective and offers views over Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it. The resulting mud-and brick hill was left to sprout weeds.Wat Saket is an undistin guished temple except for the Golden Mounon orPhu Khao Thong, on the West side of the grounds. The steep climb up the Golden Mountain puts eveything back in perspective and offers views over Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it. The resulting mud-and brick hill was left to sprout weeds would not support it. The resulting mud-and brick hill was left to sprout weeds prevent the hill from eroding. Every November a large festiva held on the ground ofWat Saket, includes a candlelight procession up the Golden Mountain.

Wat Ratchanatda
Across Mahachai road from Wat Saker is Wat Ratchanatda. This temple dates from the mid 19th century. Built under King Rarna Ill's reign, it is an unusual specimen, possibly influenced by Burmese models. The Wat has a well-known market selling Buddhist amulets or magic charms in all sizes, shapes and styles. The amulets not only feature images of the Buddha, but famous Thai monks and Indian deities. Full Buddha images are also for sale. In Thai, Buddhas or Phra Phim are never II bought II or "sold ", they are "rented". The images are purported to protect the wearer from physical harm, though some act as "love charms ". Amulets that are considered to be particularly powerful tend to cost thousand of bah t and Wat Ratchanatda is an expensive place to purchase a charm, but a good place to look around.

Wat Ratchanatda
Across Mahachai road from Wat Saker is Wat Ratchanatda. This temple dates from the mid 19th century. Built under King Rarna Ill's reign, it is an unusual specimen, possibly influenced by Burmese models. The Wat has a well-known market selling Buddhist amulets or magic charms in all sizes, shapes and styles. The amulets not only feature images of the Buddha, but famous Thai monks and Indian deities. Full Buddha images are also for sale. In Thai, Buddhas or Phra Phim are never II bought II or "sold ", they are "rented". The images are purported to protect the wearer from physical harm, though some act as "love charms ". Amulets that are considered to be particularly powerful tend to cost thousand of bah t and Wat Ratchanatda is an expensive place to purchase a charm, but a good place to look around.

Wat Bowonniwet
Wat Bowonniwet is the national head quarters for the Thammayut monastic sect, the minority sect Mahanikai Buddhism. King Mongkut, founder of the Thammayuts, begar a royal tradition by residing here as a monk; but in fact, he was the abbot of this wat for several years. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, as well as several other males in the royal family, have temporari ordained as monks here. The temple was founded in 1826, when it was known as Wat Mai. Bangkok's second Buddhist universi Mahamakut University, is housed at Wat Bowonniwet. Across the street from the main entrance to the wat are an English language Buddhist bookshop and a Thai herbal clinic.

Wat Ratchabophit
The unusual Wat Ratchabophit was built, with very elaborate decoration, around 1870 by King Rama V. The mother-of-pearl doors and windows of the Bot are espe cially refined, and the hand painted tiles clearly show European inf1uence.

Wat Arun
The temple of Daum or Wat Arun is named alter the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. It appears in all the tourist bnuktim and is located on tk Ihmhuri side of the Chao Plwaya River. King Talesin chose this 17th cerium at tor his nupl temple and place as R was the lint place in thonburi catch the morning light. The Emerald Buddha was howAA here alter it ma recaptured from I Jos. before being-moved to Vat Plea Lao in 1785. Fen Witham the sacred statue. Wat Arun continued to he much rered. and th kings Rama II and Rama III reconstructed and enlarged it to its present height of 104 metro.Today Wat Arun has a long. elongated, Khmer-Style, prang, the tower and four minor towers symbolising Mount Meru, the terrestria reprecentation of the thirty-three heavens. The Prang arc rovereil with piece. of porcelain. which hinese boats coming to Bangkok user ballast. The main Prang, steep steps lead to the two terraces that form the base of the Prang. The different layers, or heavens, are supported by Kinnaree, or half-humans, and frightening Yaksas, or demons. Pavilions on the first platform contain tatues of the Buddha at the most important stages of his life, while on the second terrace our statues of the Hindi god Indra or Erawan, his thirty-three headed elephant, stand guard. Most tourists come for the climb and don't have time for the rest of the Wat. The main Buddha image inside the Bot is believed to have been designee by King Rama II himself, but the murals date from the reign of King Rarna V.

Wat Ratchapradit
Sathi tmahasimaram The temple is situated at the northern part of Suan Saran Rom Royal garden in the land area of approximately 2 rai which is relatively small for being a temple compound. It was constructed during the reign of King Rama IV who wanted to make it a Thamrnayut sect temple pursuant of the customary practise that in the capital city of the Kingdom there must be at least three eminent temples. Out of his private property he bought the plot of land which was known as Suan Cafe Luang and had a small temple erected under thename ofWat Ratchapradit Sathit Thammayutthikaram. The most outstanding characteristic of the temple is the mural paintings in the main abbey depicting the Royal ceremonies undertaken throughout the 12 months including the legend of the eclipse of the sun phenomenon which occurred during the reign of King Rarna IV.

Wat Thepthidaram
The temple is situated at Mahachai Road. His Majesty the te King Rama III had erected it between 1836 and 1839. It was raciously granted to Krom Muen Upson Sudathep and namec at Thepthidaram. The exquisite designs in this temple consute the four directional tupa created by court rtisans during the eign of King Rarna III, e throne where the residing Buddha's "mage was enshrined nd the mural painting in the sanctuary hall featuring rice balls put up in cone-shaped receptacles called Phum Khao Bin. During the period 1840 to 1842, a leading poet of the Rattanakosin Era, Sunthon Phu, used to reside in this temple during his monkhood A monk's living quarters is thus arranged as "Ban Kawi" or Poet's House Museum which opem daily for interested visitors.

San Lak Muang
San Lak Muang or the City Pillar is across the street from t Eastern wall ofWat Plua Kae:o, at the Southern end of San am Luan This shrine encloses a wooden pillar erected by King Rama I in 17 to represent the founding of the new Bangkok capital. Later, duri the reign of King Rama Y, five other idols were added to the shrin The spirit of the pillar is considered to be the city's guardian dei and it receives the daily supplications of countless Thai worshipper some of whom commission classical Thai dancers to perform at t shrine.

Muha Uma Devi
This small Hindu temple is also called Wat Khaek. Khaek is a Thai colloquial expression for persons of Indian descent. Wat Khaek sits alongside busy Silom road, near the Pan road intersection, in Bangkok, a district with a high concentration ofIndian residents. The principle temple structure, built in the 1860s by Tamil immigrants, features a sixmetre facade of intertwined, full - colour Hindu deities, topped by a gold-plated copper dome. The temple's main shrine contains three principal deities: Uma Devi, also known as Shakti, Shiva's consort, at the centre; her son Phra Khanthakuman or Subramaniam, on the right; and her elephant-headed son Phra Phikkhanet or Ganesha, on the left. Along the left interior wall sit rows of Shivas, Vishnus and other Hindu deities, as well as a few Buddha. Thai and Chinese devotees come to pray along with Indians. Bright yellow marigold garlands are sold at the entrance for this purpose. An interesting ritual takes place in the temple at noon on most days, when a priest brigs out a tray carrying an oil lamp, coloured powders and holy water. He sprinkles the water on the hands of worshippers who in turn pass their hands through the lamp flame lor purification; and they dip their finger in the coloured powder and daub prayer marks on their Iorchcads.

Erawan Shrine
San Phra Phrom or Erawan Shrine was created as a spirit house connected to the Erawan Hotel, which has now made way for the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. The forces of the typical Thai spirit house didn't seem effective enough during the building of the hotel, so spiritual persons advised that it should be replaced with the four-headed image of Brahn.la or Phra Phrom in Thai. There have been no further hitches smce then, and the shrine has became famous for bringing good fortune. The name Erawan comes from Brahrna's thirty-three headed elephant. People offer colourful flower garlands, lotus, incense and candles. Often, if a wish has been granted, people thank the spirits by donating teak elephants or commissioning the classical Thai dancers and live orchestra.