Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)
Wat Traimit or the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is located in the Chinatown district of Bangkok, at Yaowarat Road. And as its name states, it's famous for its gigantic tribute to a religious figure - the 5 metre, 5.5 ton Golden Buddha.
The glistening spectacle had a mysterious origin, and at some point, it was covered completely with plaster to prevent it from being stolen. On the eventful day of May 25, 1955, while they were moving the statue to a new location, it fell hard on the ground, some of the plaster chipped off and the original golden appearance of the statue was discovered. From then on, the plaster was removed completely from the statue and included in the display at the current location of the statue. Now, the Buddha and the building complex surrounding it is a marvel to behold. It is also an extremely reverent place despite it being touristy. Luckily though, you can take pictures – just be respectful. The Wat Traimit is truly a testament to man’s genius in creating something from their passion – and it would be a waste not to celebrate such passion by visiting it. Whenever you’re in Bangkok and you want to see shiny things, the first stop should definitely be Wat Traimit.
Location
Wat Traimit is located in Traimit Road, at the very start of Chinatown.
Opening Days and Hours
The Temple of Golden Buddha is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
Entry Fee and Bookings
Entrance to the adjacent museum is THB 10 or USD 0.30.
How to Get There
- Fly to Bangkok via AirAsia.
- From the city centre, proceed to the nearest train station.
- Alight off Hua Lamphong Station.
- Walk all the way to Temple of Golden Buddha.
Suggested For
- Solo travellers/backpackers
- Couples
- Families
- Groups
Time to Spend
Suggested duration in this attraction is one hour.
Popularity and Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Wat Traimit is from 8:00 to 10:00 and 15:00 to 17:00.
Food
Dining places near Wat Traimit include Laappaak Dining Room, Supa, Station Cafe, 511 Cafe, TEP Bar, 12Go Cafe, Lieo Lieng Seng, and Nang Gin Kui.
Nearby Attractions
- Temple of the Reclining Buddha
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha
- The Golden Palace
Stay
The Greenery Hotel, Sleep Whale Express, JP Mansion Melody Bar, City Hotel, and the Malika Hotel offer accommodations at rates ranging from USD 18 to USD 70.