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BANGKOK TEMPLE TOUR

Bangkok City and Temples tour, the Buddhist Jewel

 

Even though Bangkok is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, a major tourist attraction, and a rapidly developing modern metropolis; it has succeeded in preserving monuments to its traditional Oriental splendor.  It miraculously still remains a city of temples and palaces, of golden spires and orange-tiered roofs, of saffron-robed monks and serene Buddha images.

This city and temples tour usually starts in the morning so that tourists will be able to see the way people in Bangkok make a living, buy food on the street, and catch the public bus to work.  On the way from the hotel to our destination, we will enjoy watching the busy life along the flower market (depends on your hotel location).

This itinerary can also be arranged in the afternoon, exposing the visitor to some different, but equally stimulating and rewarding experiences.
 There are three sacred Buddhist temples included in the tour.  

The first is Wat Trimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha Image, which is located in Chinatown and is composed of 5 1/2 tons of solid gold.  It was cast around 700 years ago during the Sukhothat period, the first kingdom of Thailand.  The second is Wat Po, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha Image; considered to be the most beautiful reclining Buddha image in Thailand.  It is 45 meters (almost 150 feet) long and 15 meters (50 feet) high.  The Temple building was once the site of the first university of Thailand.  Finally, we have Wat Benchamabopit, the Marble Temple built of Italian Carrara marble in 1899, by order of King Rama I.
 
Each of these temples possesses its own uniquely stunning beauty.  Each is well worth visiting to admire its exquisite decorative details, reflecting master craftsmanship and cultural achievement.

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Description

Bangkok Temple tour

 

TOUR DURATION    4 HOURS

08.00   Depart from the hotel with our private van. Our Bangkok temple tour starts at the Gold Buddha temple to observe the most beautiful solid gold Buddha image of Thailand, located in the Chinatown area.  Formerly known as “Wat Samjeentai, this temple was built by three Chinese comrades around 150 years ago.  It was restored in 1937 and granted the new name of Wat Trimitwitthayaram.

Phra Sukhothaitrimit: The main attraction of the temple is the five and a half ton, three-meter (about 10 feet) tall Sukhothai-style Buddha image.  The Gold Buddha is made of solid gold, and the figure appears in the Subduing Mara position.  The image was once believed to consist of ordinary stucco, until it fell from a crane while being moved to a new building, exposing the gold inside.  It is believed by scholars that the covering was a means of protecting the Golden Buddha from the Burmese, while the capital of Ayutthaya was under siege.

The Buddha image was revealed to be made of solid gold in 1955, while it was being relocated for planned enshrinement in a newly constructed hall.  After having been covered with plaster for hundreds of years, in a successful effort to conceal the gold and to protect the Buddha from theft, the gold was accidentally exposed.  The temple was restored a few years ago, with the Buddha image now displayed on the top floor of the image hall. 

We proceed on our tour by driving through Chinatown to explore the way the Chinese conduct business.  The Chinese have been extremely successful in a wide range of commercial activities, especially trading in gold, the food industry and sales of Chinese herbal medicines.  Just beyond Chinatown, we encounter another fascinating area, the Flower Market.  This is the most popular section of the city to shop for an amazing variety of flowers from all over Thailand – you will definitely want your camera ready to capture sensationally colorful photos.

Arriving next at the Reclining Buddha Temple, Wat Po, we will explore this majestic and splendid royal monastery, marveling at its grandeur!  Wat Po was originally a modest and unimposing temple, but it was completely restored and rededicated in 1739 as the royal monastery, at the command of King Rama I.  In 1893, it was restored once again, under the orders of King Rama III; converting it into the first university of Thailand.  Our tour of this structure and its contents will last about 1 hour.  We will begin in the image hall housing the colossal Reclining Buddha, 46 meters (about 153 feet) long [half the length of a football or soccer field] and 15 meters (about 50 feet) high.  The figure is constructed of brick and stucco, and gilded with gold leaf.  It is incredible magnificent.

The Reclining Buddha in the image hall is awesome, both in its scale and in its impact on the visitor; it is generally considered the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand.  The temple, itself, is the largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok today; resplendent in both its art and its architecture.  In addition, Wat Po continues to function as a school for traditional Thai massage.  Many tourists go there to experience the ultimate, most renowned massage in the world.

Visitors can also visit the traditional Thai medical science and body massage school in the compound.  If you would like to experience authentic traditional Thai massage, it is possible to enjoy it here, or to arrange for the massage school to provide a professional masseur or masseuse to visit you at your hotel.  We will also view the Four Great Stupas which are 41 meters (135 feet) high, decorated with color-glazed tiles and Chinese porcelain, and dedicated to the Four Kings of Bangkok.  Many other graceful Buddha images will also be seen around the cloisters of the temple.

The last stop on our tour is the Marble Temple.  Among the three temples, this is the newest.  Intended as the royal monastery, construction began in 1899, at the command of King Rama V.  The marble used to construct this temple was imported from Carrera, Italy. The principal Buddha image of this temple is very beautiful; and it is one of the most venerated Buddha images in Bangkok today.
12.30    You can choose between returning to your hotel by private car, or being dropped off to shop.

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