THAILAND 2007

Photos and text by MJ Lakwhatchero

GOING to Thailand will not be complete without visiting their famous Shrines, Wats and Temples. They present the religiosity, culture and heritage of the Thai people. Here are four of the notableTemples that you should visit when you step to the City of Angels. Remember to take you shoes, and even your cap and sun-glasses before entering any of these sacred sites. Do not play jokes nor touch any sacred image or monk because they need deep reverence.

The Grand Palace or Wat Phra Keo must be on top of any tourist’s sight seeing list for Bangkok. Once visited, this fortress, the symbolic heart of old Bangkok, will never be forgotten. The best way to arrive at the Grand Palace compound is by boat along the Chao Phraya. Arriving thus, you will be met by a vision of spires and steeples that create the glories of ancientSiam.

The Royal Palaces open daily at 8:30 AM; admission is 100 baht. The main entrance to the Grand Palace is on the North side, on Na Phralan Road. There are five major buildings in within the square mile compound, all of which have been added to by different monarchs and which express a progression in architectural tastes.

As you first come in the main gate, the Chakri Maha Prasat lies straight ahead, beyond an entrance to the inner courtyard. This building is famous for its strange mix of architectural styles: the façade is Italian, while the roof is typically Thai. To its right is the Dusit Maha Prasat, built by Rama I in 1782 and serves as an audience hall for the king.

 

The highlight of the Grand Palace is the Royal Chapel called Wat Phra Keo or Emerald Buddha Temple. It occupies the northeast corner of the compound and Thailand’s most holy object, a 73 cm tall green Buddha discovered in Chiang Rai duri ng the 15^th century. This temple was built in the 18^th century as a resting place for the emerald Buddha and splendidly decorated with blue tiles and elaborate murals. The color is actually green and is enclosed in a glass case. Three times a year the King arrives to perform the sacred rite of changing its seasonal attire. On either side stand two additional Buddhas,said to personify the first two kings of the Chakri Dynasty. Photography is forbidden at the temple as are shoes.

WAT ARUN

THE Temple of Dawn, is beautiful, but the best part of visiting this temple is its location across the river from the Royal Palaces. Taking the river ferry from the Tha Tien pier is an adventure in itself.

Named after Aruna, the Indian God of dawn, Wat Arun is famous for its tower, called Phra Prang, which is one of Bangkok’s most outstanding monuments. The 243 ft-high tower is decorated with little pieces of colorful porcelain that in early mornings hours light up with the bright and pastel colors of the morning. Several Wats are also found here like Wat Kalayanimit, Wat Prayoon, Wat Suwanaram and Wat Dusitaram.

WAT PHO

The temple of the Reclining Buddha, is the oldest and the largest temple in Bangkok. Its construction began in 1793 by RamaI. There are many structures packed into the large compound, but the central and most astounding chapel, called bot, is the one that contains an enormous reclining Buddha, made out of brick and concrete finished with gold. The image is 150 ft long and 40 ft high.

The bot is in the middle of the courtyard surrounded by cloisters filled with rows upon rows of seated Buddha images. The Reclining Buddha is the largest in the Kingdom and the temple contains the largest collection of Buddhist images in Thailand.

WAT SUTHAT

Visit this 19^th century temple to see the superb murals recently restored, which illustrate incidents in the life of the Buddha. The double roof of the long nad narrow building is unique in Thai architecture.

There are still some Temples and Wats that you may encounter along your tour but this four bests illustrate the beauty, the grandeur and the splendor of the Amazing Thailand.