24 Must-See Temples in Bangkok

Wat Mahathat (or more precisely Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara) was built during the Ayutthaya period. It's one of the 10 royal temples of the highest class in Bangkok, used for royal ceremonies thanks to its strategic location between the Grand Palace and the Royal Palace.

Located within the temple grounds is the oldest higher education institute for Buddhist monks in Thailand and an important center for the study of Buddhism and meditation. Wat Mahatat has become a popular place to learn Vipassana Meditation, with some classes undertaken in English. Just opposite Wat Mahatat is a gigantic amulet market, which goes far beyond the few vendors on the street walkway.

Wat Suthat, better known for the red Giant Swing that stands at its entrance, is one of the oldest and most impressive temples in Bangkok. It features an elegant chapel with a sweeping roof, magnificent wall murals and exquisite hand-carved teakwood door panels.

The temple’s construction was commissioned by King Rama I (1782-1809), to shelter the 13th-century bronze Buddha image transported by boat from Sukhothai, but it was finally completed during King Rama III’s reign (1824-51). Located in the Old City area, just east of the Royal Field, you can easily combine a visit to Wat Suthat with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Wat Prayoon, or Wat Rua Lek, sits on the western side of the Chao Praya River. Built during King Rama III’s reign, the temple’s outstanding features include a large inverted bell-shaped chedi (pagoda), turtle mountain housing spirit houses, and a pond where visitors can feed the turtles.

The temple is located on the Thonburi side of the river, at the foot of Memorial Bridge (Saphan Phut). This area is on the southern edge of the old Portuguese community (Kuthi Jeen), an area designated to Portuguese merchants and government officials during the Early Rattanakosin Period (after Ayutthaya was destroyed and King Rama I founded a new capital in Thonburi).

At the time of founding, this area was accessible only by khlong (canal) and was still surrounded by rice fields. Built by King Mongkut in 1857, Wat Pathum Wanaram was the nearest place of worship to his Sa Pathum Palace.

Take a look at the carvings on the crematorium that demonstrate rare examples of ancient craftsmanship, featuring ornate stencils and lacquered sculptures. Pathum Wanaram is the perfect escape for some cultural refreshment after shopping in nearby Siam Paragon or CentralWorld.

On top of the obvious religious significance, Wat Bowon Niwet has added sacredness due to its long-standing connections with the Thai royal court, making it especially important for Thais. Located on Bangkok's Rattanakosin Island, just within the old city walls on Phra Sumen Road, it was founded in 1826 by HRH Prince Maha Sakdipolsep, a son of King Rama III. The complex consists of elaborately carved doorway arches and windows in gilded stucco. The gable is decorated with glazed ceramics, indicating strong Chinese architectural influences. There are several rare and much revered Buddha statues, a large chedi covered in gold tiles, surrounded by 4 small golden prangs (Khmer-style towers).

Its regal history dates back to the first abbot in 1836. This was none other than Prince Bhikku Mongkut, who later acceded the throne to become King Rama IV. Before this, he spent 27 years in the priesthood and 14 as abbot of Wat Bowon, founding Thailand's second Buddhist university, Mahamakut University, within the temple grounds. King Rama VI, King Rama VII and HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej were also ordained here, making this a major temple of patronage for the Chakri Dynasty.

Proof that the sacred can survive amid the profane is Wat Chana Songkhram. Its location in the backpacker enclave Banglamphu, close to Khao San Road and the mildly less frenetic Soi Rambuttri, belies both the ancient heritage and the tranquillity of this small temple.

Its origins date back to the Ayutthaya period, but it was restored in 1787, during the reign of King Rama I. This was after the famous victory in the Nine Armies' Wars, which explains the name – Wat Chana Songkhram Ratchaworawihan translates as 'victory in war'.

A soaring, 32-meter-high standing Buddha is what defines Wat Intharawihan, which borders Wisut Kasat Road at the northern edge of Banglamphu. Known as the Luangpor Toh, the building of this statue began in 1867, during the reign of King Rama IV. Decorated in glass mosaics and 24-carat gold, it took over 60 years to complete.

The prayer room was built towards the end of the Ayutthaya period and has several interesting Buddha images, elevated murals on the walls and lavishly gilded window shutters. Outside are unusually carved stones and, tucked away in an alcove, there's a lifelike model of Luang Phaw Toh, a famous monk. In the small museum are old Buddha images and various paintings.

Despite dominating the western bank of the Chao Phraya River with its giant temple structure, Wat Kalayanamit is often overlooked by tourists, city guides, and even locals. The nearby Wat Arun is much more famous and acts as a magnet, drawing the crowds away from some of the other nearby Thonburi attractions and temples. If you want a more tranquil, less touristy alternate, head to Wat Kalayanamit, a temple particularly famous for its enormous golden seated Buddha inside the main building.

Getting to Wat Kalayanamit in Thonburi is easy. In fact, it even has its own pier. Take a ferry there from the opposite side at Ratchinee Pier or hop on one of the many the Chao Phraya express boats that make their way up and down the river every day and ask for "Wat Kalaya-namit".

An ancient temple located in Thonburi, next to the Chao Phraya River, Wat Rakhang Khositaram was originally built in the Ayutthaya period. It earned its name – meaning 'temple bell' – during the reign of King Rama I when a bell was found in the temple compound. Later, King Rama II had this moved to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), sending 5 new ones in its place. These can be found in the pretty hor rakhang, or bell tower, which was built in the 4-gable style of Ayutthaya and early Rattanokosin periods and is located in the corner of the temple compound.

Not far from this is an elegant ho trai, or library, which is considered an outstanding example of Thai architecture. Once the residence of King Rama I, before his ascendance to the throne, its 3 adjoining buildings today function as a small museum, housing beautiful scriptures stored in lacquer and guilt cabinets.

Both the wiharn (prayer hall) and ubosot (ordination hall) in Wat Ratchabophit have typically Thai exteriors. The temple buildings are decorated in hand-painted glazed Thai-style ceramics and elaborate, gilded door and window frames, but with European-style interiors similar to that of a gothic cathedral.

The temple contains a well-known gilded Buddha image in the meditation posture, Phra Buddha Ankhiros, and rests on a base in which the ashes of King Rama VII are kept. An impressive chedi, modeled after the famous Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom province, contains relics of Lord Buddha, while the enclosure around it contains many Buddha images in various postures. There's also a royal cemetery with monuments containing the ashes of the Queen, concubines, sons and daughters of King Rama V, and various other members of the Royal Family.

Located in Rattanakosin, not far from the Grand Palace, the diminutive and yet striking Wat Ratchapradit dates back to the late-19th century and belongs to the Thammayut Nikai Buddhist sect. King Rama IV had it built on a former coffee plantation.

The central feature is a richly decorated prayer room in gray and white marble tiles and carved wood. The gateways and windows are adorned with intricate stucco crowns, the doors and window frames with Chinese pearl. The ceiling of the room is a deep red with patterns of golden rosettes, while murals of royal ceremonies grace the walls. Inside is a beautiful altar containing the ashes of King Rama IV, on top of which is a replica of Phra Buddha Sihing. There are also 2 Khmer-influenced prangs (towers), one of which has faces clearly reminiscent of Cambodia's Angkor Thom temple.

Known for its wonderful original murals, Wat Suwannaram is a little-known and rarely-visited temple in Thonburi, not far from the Royal Barges Museum. It was built during the reign of King Taksin, during the Ayutthaya period, and briefly became an execution site for Burmese prisoners. Separate restorations during both King Rama I's and King Rama III's reigns gave it its current name and design, and it went on to serve as the Royal cremation ground for members of the royal family and high-ranking officers until the reign of King Rama V.

The temple's real draw is the collection of original, early-19th-century murals by famous historic artists Thong Yu and Pae Khong, which though decaying and in need of restoration, are exquisite. They tell the story of Lord Buddha and are considered by experts to be among Thailand's most beautiful. There's also a Buddha image from the Sukothai period. Other features in the temple complex include a wihan, or prayer hall, built during King Rama V's reign.

Originally called Wat Ban Phraakrai Suanluang, this temple was built between 1836 and 1839 by order of King Rama III. A gift for HRH Prince Apsornsudathep, its architecture is characteristic of the period, especially the ordination hall, with its strong Chinese features such as a gable decorated with glazed ceramics. Inside are some impressive murals and the temple's main Buddha image, Luang Phor Khao or Phra Buddha Devavilasa.

The prayer hall exhibits a similar style and contains images of 43 enlightened female disciples cast in metal. There are also 4 tall prangs (Khmer-style towers) representing the 4 Chinese deities.

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman. It was built by Tamil immigrants in the 1860s, featuring a riotous blend of rich colors and ornate decoration that makes for rather unexpected sight in Silom. It’s a great site for a little taste of Indian architecture right in the heart of Bangkok.

The tall central structure is plastered full of detailed, entwining Hindu deities. The shrines inside the temple are dedicated to both Shiva's consort and the elephant-headed Ganesha, with others paying homage to Vishnu and Krishna.

Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, also known as Wat Leng Noei Yi, is a temple that’s nestled in the heart of Chinatown. The temple is the hub of activities during festivals like Chinese New Year. It’s often referred to as one of Bangkok's most important and largest Chinese-Buddhist temples.

The temple contains spectacular Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian shrines and dates back to 1872 when it was called Wat Leng Nui Yee. King Rama V then changed its name to Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (which means Dragon Lotus Temple).

Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha is a Sikh temple in Pahurat, on the edge of Chinatown. This area is the heart of Bangkok's small but lively Sikh community. The white, 6-storey temple is topped with a golden dome. It was built in 1932 and is the second largest of its kind outside India.

You’ll find the congregation hall on the 4th floor, and an international school on the 5th floor of Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Temple. The top floor is the main prayer area, with a copy of Sikhism's holy book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, interned on a flower-filled altar.

Chinatown's Wat Pathum Khongkha is a pretty temple dating back to the Ayutthaya period, but once served an extraordinary, rather grisly purpose. It was used as an execution site for members of the Royal Family in the early Rattanakosin period. Several members from the first and third reigns were disposed of on the temple's execution stone.