Wat Suthat Temple in Bangkok is one of the most ancient and the most famous temples of Thailand. Wat Suthat is the creation of three kings: Rama I (1782-1809) began the temple’s construction and Rama II (1824-1851) completed his work. It is also called the temple of Bronze Buddha because of its giant, 8 meters high monument Phra Buddha Shakyamuni. Actually, the temple was built for it.

Wat Suthat is an integral part of an Old City in Bangkok, where, within walking distance, other famous attractions are located – Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the King’s Palace, and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho).

The whole territory of the temple is divided into two parts: the temple itself and the monks’ residence. The vihara (the Buddha’s temple) impresses with its architectural beauty and interior decoration. A richly decorated gabled roof is supported by columns with golden lotuses. Inside, its walls are painted with frescoes, made with a special perspective technique that allowed to express spatial depth and volume. The frescoes show the episodes of previous Buddha’s incarnations (before the advent of Prince Siddhart Gautama, the founder of Buddhism). The teak doors are gracefully decorated with carvings of old craftsmen.

The territory around the temple is no less beautiful. A spacious yard is planted with the elegant bonsai trees and bushes cut in the form of crowns. Around the building of the temple, you can find 28 small copies of Chinese pagodas, the monuments of soldiers and horses, that, according to the legend, were brought from the Celestial Empire in merchant boats as ballast. Typically covered galleries with the raws of gold-plated buddhas are situated along the outer walls of the temple.

Not too far from the temple, you can easily notice a monumental building. It is more than 21 meters high and consists of two poles which are connected with a crossbar decorated with carving. This is a giant teak swing recreated according to old technology. Previously, it was used during an ancient Brahmana ceremony.