Located near the entrance to Bangkok’s Chinatown district on Yaowarat Road, Wat Traimit is an easy visit for those interested to uncover the hidden beauty and mystery beneath Bangkok’s most influential Buddha image and community.
According to Thai standards Wat Traimit is considered to be a rather modest temple. The main reason people visit Wat Traimit is to view the magnificent splendor of the world’s largest solid Gold Buddha image, known in Thai as Phra Buddha Maha Suwanna Patimakorn. The 10-foot tall Buddha image is reportedly comprised of approximately 83% pure gold and weighs five and a half tons, making it worth millions of dollars at today’s gold prices.
What many visitors do not know before paying their respects at this iconic Sukhothai styled Buddha image, which was fashioned in the 13th century, is that this statue spent many years hiding its true identity underneath a cloak of plaster and stucco.
This cosmetic veil successfully hid the solid gold Buddha image from the prying eyes of invading Burmese armies, thieves and looters for several centuries. Because its outer layer was cracked during a fall due to a mishap when it was being moved in 1955, the statue can now be appreciated in all of its golden glory. The statue now sits in a newly renovated location, set high atop the four story marble-lined temple structure at Wat Traimit.
While the golden Buddha statue is admittedly the crowning attraction of Wat Traimit, resting on the fourth level of the temple, the second floor houses an impressive interpretive center that tells the history of the Chinese community in Bangkok. The third floor houses a museum that reveals the history of the Golden Buddha image itself, including its construction, design features and the story of how it came to be at Wat Traimit.
Customer Feedback – “While this isn’t one of the top temples on the list in Bangkok it was definitely worth the trip. The Buddha is spectacular and the grounds, while not as elaborate as some of the others are definitely beautiful. You are also a quick walk into Chinatown, a place where you can get lost all day.”
A visit to Wat Traimit makes a good starting or ending point to a tour of Bangkok’s Chinatown area. Bangkok’s central train station, known as Hua Lamphong, is also very near to Wat Traimit and Chinatown and is a great transportation option if you want to have a private tour guide help you with making arrangements to travel to other areas in Thailand via railway.
Wat Traimit is open every day from 8am until 5pm. The Golden Buddha image can be viewed every day during the same times. The museum is open Tues-Sun from 8am until 5pm (Only the museum is closed on Mondays).
Admission Price: 100 Baht per person for museum entrance + 40 Baht per person to view buddha image.
Things you should be aware of when visiting the Wat Traimit:
- Respectful attire is required. Wat Traimit is a functioning Thai Buddhist temple, and a such the management insists that visitors dress in a respectful manner. This means that men must wear long pants and short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts (no tank tops or sleeveless shirts). Women must wear skirts or pants extending at least to the knee, and also should not wear a top that reveals bare shoulders.
- Visitors are allowed to take photographs in any area of the complex.
- It is recommended that you wear shoes that can be easily removed as you’ll need to take them off when entering any structure in the complex.
