Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount), Bangkok

The grubby yellow hill crowned with a gleaming gold chedi is also known as the Golden Mount, or 'Phu Khao Thong'. It rises within the compound of Wat Saket, an unusual temple that houses Buddha relics within its 58-metre-high chedi surmounted by a golden cupola. Built by King Rama I just outside the new city walls, the late-18th century temple served as the capital's crematorium. During the following 100 years, the temple became the dumping ground for some 60,000 plague victims.

The Golden Mount was added to the compound in the early 19th century, when King Rama III built a huge chedi which collapsed into a hill of rubble. Buddhist belief holds that religious buildings cannot be destroyed, and many years later King Rama V topped the debris with another chedi in which he placed relics, believed by some to be the Buddha's teeth.

Visit the temple and then climb the 318 steps to the cupola. Watch religious visitors place flowers near the date of the month they find auspicious and light candles. As you climb to the top, enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Bangkok. The cupola is covered with small golden squares reflecting in the sun and giving the place the name of Golden Mount.

Wat Saket hosts an enormous annual temple fair in the first week of November, when the mount is illuminated with coloured lanterns and the compound turns into a massive fun fair. Admission to the chedi costs 10 baht.

Open: Daily 8:00 - 21:00
Location: Between Boriphat Road and Lan Luang Road

Source : bangkok.com

Tamboon Sai Baat in New Year Day

Tamboen Sai Baat

Thai. To perform a good deed or to make merit (tamboon) by giving an offering into (sai) the alms bowl (baat) of a Buddhist monk. Sometimes in temples several alms bowls are arranged in a long row in which small coins, usually 25 satang (fig.) are offered. This form of tamboon may occur in combination with Buddha images as in the phra prajamwan system (fig.). See also sai baat.

Tamboon

Thais. Het brengen van offers of het verrichten van goede daden voor religieuze doeleinden, waardoor men verdiensten wil verwerven, hetzij voor zichzelf of voor derden. Dit kunnen offerandes zijn in tempels (fig.), het voeden van bedelmonniken (sai baat), tijdelijk verblijf in een tempel, een gebed (fig.), enz. Soms ook -als in het Engels- tamboon getranscribeerd.

Sai Baat

Thai. 'Offering into an alms bowl'. Making merit by putting food into the alms bowl of Buddhist monks. See also tamboon sai baat (fig.) and bintabaat.

Baat

Thais. De bedelkom van een monnik. Bedelkommmen worden reeds gedurende meer dan 2.500 jaar gebruikt voor de bintabaat of bedelronde van monniken in de vroege ochtend, een traditie die tot op heden voortduurt. Het produktieproces van een bedelkom is erg tijdsrovend waardoor er slechts enkelen per dag kunnen worden vervaardigd. Ze worden samengesteld uit acht stukken metaal, die de acht spaken van de dhammachakka, het boeddhistische Wiel der Wet, en het Achtvoudige Pad vertegenwoordigen. Een eerste metalen strip wordt in een ronde vorm geslaan om de rand van de kom te maken. Vervolgens worden drie stukken in een bolle kruisvorm geslaan om het skelet te vormen, waarna vier driehoekige stukjes de zijkanten vervolledigen. De bedelkom wordt vervolgens in een oven aaneengesmeden en gevormd. Nadien wordt ze herhaaldelijk glad gewreven en verwarmd om het oppervlak glanzend te maken. Bedelkommen worden tegenwoordig nog steeds vervaardigd in Bangkok's Ban Baat of 'Bedelkom Dorp', in de achterstraatjes van Bamrung Meuang Road in het district Pomprap Sattruphai.

Source : thailex.info

Sanam Luang or Royal Field in Bangkok, Thailand

Sometimes known as the Royal Park or Royal Field, Sanam Luang is right in the centre of the Rattanakosin (Old City) part of Bangkok. A large oval-shaped park, Sanam Luang has a number of royal connections and is where the King appears during his annual 5 December birthday celebrations. Royal cremations are also held here and it is also the venue for the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony. From February to May you can see Kite Flying at the park. There are often competitions for the most ornate and most beautiful kites. It's very interesting to walk around Sanam Luang in the early evening you can see fortune tellers (Mor Doo), people selling a variety of wares, and even masseurs offering traditional massage in the open!

Details: Sanam Luang is right in the centre of Bangkok's main tourist attractions and you can see many of them from the park nearly Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace. It is about 15 minutes walk to Khao San Road from the park.

How to get there: There are no BTS or MRT stations in this area. Probably the fastest way to get there is Express Boat stopping at Banglampoo Pier.

The following buses will get you there:

Bus number: 3, 15, 30, 32, 43, 44, 59, 64, 70, 80, 123, 201
Air-conditioned bus number: 6, 7, 12, 39, 44

Source : discoverythailand.com

Wat Phra Rattanasatsadaram - Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat phra Rattanasatsadaram (Wat Phra Kaew) is the most sacred structure in the Kingdom and the repository of the spirit for all the Thai people. The history of the Emerald Buddha itself dates back more than 600 years and also represents the struggle of the Thai people to maintain their independence from foreign aggressors.

When King Rama I established Bangkok, or Rattanakosin, as his capital in 1782 he added the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the eastern section of the Royal Grand Palace in order to install the Emerald Buddha. During its two hundred year history the Chapel had undergone several renovations, restorations, and additions. The Royal Chapel thus incorporates no less than two centuries of Rattanakosin craftsmanship which is an expression of the essential entity of the Thai people.

A visit to Bangkok is not complete without a visit to this very Important Temple(Wat). We will show you the many spectacular buildings along with a history of the Emerald Buddha itself which we hope will give you a better understanding of Thai history and its people. The related stories listed below are just some of the many spectacular building and monuments inside the grounds of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha(Wat Phra Kaew).

Souce : .bangkokmag.infothai.com