Thailand

Description

Bangkok has many Buddhist Temples of significance and it is a challenge to choose 3 that can be a part of the day tour program. However, we have chosen the three most iconic Buddhist temples that stand in sharp contrast with each other to give you the most comprehensive experience and perspective of Thai religion, culture and history possible in a half-day tour. Our selection of temples will take you into time travel of Thai history when the power center of Thailand shifted from Ayutthaya to present-day Bangkok. After the sacking of Ayutthaya by the Burmese, King Taksin consolidated the Kingdom from the western banks of the Chaophraya river from what is today known as the Thonburi area. Wat Arun also called the Temple of Dawn, is the temple on the Thonburi Side of Chaophraya River, where the first origins of Bangkok as a city began. This shimmering white color temple stands in contrast to the mostly golden color Thai temples. You can see Thai temple architecture in its most resplendent state as the morning sun rays reflect off Wat Arun’s imposing spires. Then we move to Wat Pho, or the Temple of Reclining Buddha, which is one of the most sacred Royal Temples, a house of Thai medicine and one of the largest temples. This temple is on the opposite side of the River to Wat Arun and is symbolic of the era when erstwhile Bangkok passed from the Thonburi Kingdom to the Rattanakosin Kingdom. It is from here the foundation of modern-day Bangkok was laid. Our third inclusion, the Golden Buddha Temple will unravel the story of how this 5.5 tons of solid gold Buddha statue remained a secret for 200 years. The story again goes back to the Ayutthaya era, when suspecting a Burmese invasion, the valuable gold statue of Buddha was covered with stucco plaster and colored glass. Only centuries later during the renovation was the secret revealed and now proudly adorns Wat Traimit of the Temple of the Golden Buddha You will love traversing through Bangkok’s medieval to modern era on this tour of 3 temples with us.