Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat

A contemplative stop on the Bangkok audio-guided tour, Wat Suthat is one of the six first-rank royal Buddhist temples in Thailand, which makes it a prestigious and rare place. Its construction began in 1807 under Rama I.

Forty years of construction

It took nearly forty years, under Rama III, for the temple to be completed, giving rise to one of the most elegant in Bangkok. In the main chapel, vast frescoes cover the walls: they depict the Buddhist universe but also scenes of daily life in the nineteenth century, like a painted history book.

What to see

At the centre sits the Buddha Phra Sri Sakyamuni, an impressive bronze statue eight metres high, dating from the fourteenth century and coming from Sukhothai. At the entrance stands the Giant Red Swing, twenty metres high, once used for a Brahmanic ceremony intended to ensure good harvests. Visit this sanctuary with respect.

Practical information

Wat Suthat is in the Phra Nakhon district, near the Giant Red Swing. Like any place of worship, it is visited in appropriate dress and with respect for silence; hours and access conditions should be checked depending on the season.

What is the Giant Red Swing ?

A twenty-metre-high structure in front of the temple, used for an ancient Brahmanic ceremony.

What statue does Wat Suthat house ?

The Buddha Phra Sri Sakyamuni, a bronze statue eight metres high dating from the fourteenth century.