Bangkok Thai temples

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Thai temples are some of the most beautiful architectural wonders of the world. During your holiday in Bangkok, Thailand, make sure that you take your camera and prepare to visit the wonders of the many Thai temples located throughout the city and surrounding areas.

When visiting Thai temples, it is best to go early in the morning, to beat both the crowds and the heat. Thai temples are called "Wats" and play a significant religious role in Thai culture. In many of these Buddhist temples, monks actually live in the complex and can usually be seen in and around the temples. Buddhist monks take a vow of chastity and it important for Westerners to respect the culture. Shoes should not be worn inside the Thai temples and women should not touch any of the monks as they see this as a sign of disrespect. Photos can be taken, but not during services.

The Wat Phra Kaew, or The Emerald Buddha, is one of the most popular Thai temples for tourists to Bangkok. The Wat Phra Kaew is located in the heart of Bangkok and is relatively easy to sot with its large, golden spheres and orange roof. It is a lovely building and features a large likeness of Buddha carved from a block of jade. The temple was built in the 15th century and is still used for worship.

The Wat Arun, or The Temple of Dawn, is another Thai temple that you will want to visit when visiting Bangkok. The Wat Arun is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River and is particularly lovely just before dawn, when the sun comes up behind the large spiral sphere.

Thai temples are each unique and offer some beautiful glass pieces, ancient artifacts and various images of Buddha, some carved in precious stones, gold and other minerals. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, or Wat Pho is one of the most splendid Thai temples in all of Bangkok. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is the largest temple in Bangkok and has a large statue of the reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf. The statue is adorned with mother-of-pearl decorations and is quite lovely to behold.

At the end of Chinatown is the Wat Traimit, also called the Temple of the Golden Buddha. This temple has the largest golden seated Buddha in all of Thailand and the architecture of the temple is absolutely breathtaking. The golden Buddha weights five and a half tons and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok.

Thai temples adorn much of Bangkok and are a integral part of the culture of Thailand. Visiting the Thai temples while in Bangkok is something that you will not want to miss. Thai temples are places of worship for many Thai people, so it is important to be respectful and reverent when visiting these magnificent sights. To make your Bangkok holiday complete, get up early, take a map and your camera, and visit some of these beautiful structures.