 Wat Saket (Golden Mount) temple in Bangkok
Text and Pix by Nilma Dole
 One of the foremost attractions
in Bangkok is the stunning Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan shortened to
pronounce as Wat Saket. This is a Buddhist temple (Wat) in Pom Prap
Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. It’s definitely not as
difficult to climb as Sri Pada but looks quite a big mountain that
attracts attention from any summit.However, the skyscrapers being
constructed now can match the stupendous size of the Golden Mount one
day.
The temple traces its origins to the Ayutthaya era, when it was
called Wat Sakae. King Rama I renovated the temple and renamed it to Wat
Saket. According to legend, the Phu Khao Thong or the Golden mountain is
a steep hill inside the Wat Saket compound. It is not a natural outcrop,
but an artificial hill.
During the reign of King Rama III (1787 – 1851) the decision was made
to build a Chedi of huge dimensions to add to the Wat Saket temple.
However, the large Chedi collapsed during the construction process
because the soft soil beneath would not support it. The resulting
mud-and-brick hillock was left alone for about half a century, taking
the shape of a natural hill and becoming overgrown with weeds. Since
then it looked like a natural small mountain it received its name of
“Phu Khao” at that time.
 Finally under King Rama IV, a small Chedi was built on the hilltop.
This smaller structure was completed under King Rama V (1853– 1910),
when a Buddha relic from India was housed in the Chedi. In the 1940s,
the surrounding concrete walls were built to prevent the hill from
eroding.
There is an important festival at Wat Saket every November that
includes a beautiful candlelight procession up Phu Khao Thong. You can
visit the temple and then climb the 318 steps to the cupola. Thereafter,
watch religious visitors decorate the temple with sweet-smelling flowers
near the date of the month they find auspicious and light candles. As
you climb to the top, enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Bangkok. The
cupola is covered with small golden squares reflecting in the sun and
giving the place the name of Golden Mount. |
