Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha
This ornate temple houses the Golden Buddha, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest golden Buddha statue (it measures almost four meters or thirteen feet in height and just over three meters or ten feet across, and weighs 5.5 tons). Now over 700 years old, it was once covered in plaster (to fool invading Burmese back in the day), until 1955, when the plaster cracked and the gold was revealed. It’s mostly made of pure 18-carat gold, and is one of the world’s largest solid gold statues, worth an estimated 250 million US dollars. Its current home was added in 2009, featuring a steep Thai-style roof, marble, and Chinese-style balustrades. On the floors below it are exhibitions related to the history of the statue and of Chinese immigration to Thailand.
Located in Chinatown, the temple is very popular with the local Chinese residents, who pass by to rub gold leaf on the smaller Buddha images. It’s one of the tallest buildings in the neighborhood, offering a panoramic view of the city.
The Golden Buddha in Wat Traimit
Visitor's Guide
Opening hours: 8am-5pm
Tickets: 40 baht
How to get to Wat Traimit
Wat Traimit is about a 5-minute walk from the Hua Lamphong station of the MRT subway.