The Golden Mountain

The Temple of the Golden Mountain or Wat Saket and Golden Mountain are originally called Wat Saket Ratcha (Wat Saket Ratcha Thief Maha Vihan). The temple was originally built in the days when the capital of the kingdom was the city of Ayutthaya. Later, in the 18th century, the temple was completed by order of the kings and many times rebuilt until it regained its current state. The temple is one of the most recognizable in Bangkok. When he moved to Bangkok, the temple was used as a city crematorium. The remains of more than 60,000 poor people in Bangkok are said to have been buried at the foot of the mountain. The temple is no longer used as a crematorium. On the territory of this temple you can see an artificial hill, on it there is one of the buildings of the temple - a gilded pagoda. The height of the hill with the pagoda is 76 meters. There are rumors that the remains of poor people of Bangkok (more than 60 thousand) are buried near the base of the mountain. If you climb the hill, you can see a beautiful view of the island of Ratannakosin. To see this picture, you have to climb 300 steps. There are bells that you can safely ring. It is believed that the ringing of bells brings good luck. This place is revered by the Thais, because there lies a particle of the ashes of the Buddha, which is buried in a golden sarcophagus. On the square of the temple there are Buddhist buildings: a library, a chapel, an initiation hall. In November there are ceremonies of worship. In the heat, climbing the hill is better postponed. Visiting the temple is free, and a view from the observation deck costs 50 baht. You can get there by city bus No. 8, No. 37, No. 47 (the fare is from 6 to 23 baht).