Wat Saket and the Golden Mount

betw. Boriphat and Lan Luang Rds. on Soi Wat Saket
pier: Phanfa Pier (canal pier)

HOURS: Daily 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

COST: 10B to enter the chedi

A couple of kilometers east of Wat Pho [1] and the Grand Palace [2], you’ll notice a large golden pagoda on top of a large hill. Originally built during the Ayutthaya period before the founding of Bangkok [3], what is now Wat Saket was completed by Rama V, and the Golden Mount was added to the top.

When you arrive, be prepared for a long climb. As you ascend the steps to the temple keep an eye out for the numerous, somewhat incongruous, small shrines that have been placed here over the years. When you reach the top you’ll enter Wat Saket, a temple that is home to some Buddha relics. But the main attraction is the panoramic view of the city. To see it, you’ll climb another set of steps that lead out onto the terrace of the chedi.

Compared to Wat Phra Kaew [4] and Wat Arun [5] on the other side of the river, this wat will seem unimpressive. But the climb up the stairs and around the hill is worth it for the view of the city from the top. If you’re coming from the downtown area, the best way to get here is to take the Saen Sab khlong boat to Golden Mount.