Bangkok a Feast of Attractions-2

Bangkok or Krung Thep meaning the City ofsituated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao
Angels is Thailand’s capital as well as itsPhraya River. It is believed that after fighting his
largest city. It's a city with infinite layers whichway out of Ayutthaya, which was besigned by a
you need to explore to reveal its hidden secrets.Burmese army at the time, King Taksin arrived at
Bangkok has a rocking nightlife for the partythis temple just as dawn was breaking. He later
animal, temples and sites for the culture lovers,had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat
and shopping galore for the shop-a-holic. It is aChaeng, the Temple of the Dawn.
bustling densely populated metropolitan, an exoticWat Pho -------------Temple of Reclining Buddha
city filled with wondrous sights and smells.Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is
Bangkok Waterwayslocated behind the splendid Temple of the Emerald
While many of the klongs (canals) have sinceBuddha. It's the largest temple in Bangkok and
been replaced by roads, the Chao Praya River orfamed for its huge and majestic reclining Buddha
the River of Kings continues to flow unaltered,measured 46 metres long and covered in gold
separating the original capital of Thonburi on oneleaf. The Buddha's feet are 3 metres long and
side of the river, from today's Bangkok. On theexquisitely decorated in mother-of-pearl
Thonburi side of the river (the original site ofillustrations of auspicious characteristics of the
Thailand's capital) networks of canals (klongs) stillBuddha.
connect the city to the suburbs, which remainWat Mahathat
largely unaffected by modern development. AndThe headquarter of Thailand's largest monastic
on the Rattanakosin side it is still possible to catchorder and Vipassana Meditation centre, Wat
river taxis along Khlong Saen Sap, an importantMahathat is an important centre for the study of
transport artery that cuts through the heart ofBuddhism and meditation. Although most
the modern city.programmes are in Thai, there are some in English
Many of the historic sights of Bangkok lie on theand the temple has become a popular place to
banks of the Chao Praya River. The riverlearn the Vipassana meditation method.
provides contrasts of old and new, with many ofWat Traimit --------------Temple of Golden Buddha
Bangkok's most revered temples standingLocated at the end of Chinatown's Yaowarat
alongside warehouses, old wooden houses, newRoad, near Hualampong Railway Station, Wat
residential blocks and prestigious five star hotels.Traimit houses the world's largest golden seated
On the waterways you can find the floatingBuddha measuring nearly five metres in height
market boats piled high with tropical fruit andand weighing five and a half tons. In the past,
vegetables, fresh, ready-to-drink coconut juiceartisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised
and local food cooked from floating kitchensthem from invading armies by a covering of
located right on the boat. Floating markets arestucco and plaster.
Taling Chan Market, Bang Ku Wiang Market, ThaWat Sutat --------------------Great Swing
Kha, and Damnoen Saduak.One of the oldest temples with a sweeping
Besides the local river taxis or ruer duan stop atelegant roof and the site of the original Giant
most landings along the river, the Chao PrayaSwing ceremony. A huge teak arch, all that
Express Boat Company operates an additionalremains of the original Giant Swing are in ruins in
tourist boat service that stops at ten major piersfront of the temple. The swing was used in a
and provides access to attractions like the Grandceremony to give thanks for a good rice harvest.
Palace, Wat Po and the Royal Barge Museum.Young men would ride the swing high in the air,
Bangkok Templessuspended 80 feet from the ground when in full
Bangkok's temples are a unique part of theswing.
capital's heart and soul. The architecture isWat Saket ----------------------Temple of the Golden
awe-inspiring and the glittering decoration isMount
stunning. The temples or wats are an importantThe grubby yellow hill crowned with a gleaming
part in Buddhist traditions, Monks live in the templegold chedi is also known as the Golden Mount, or
complexes, attend to prayers and duties and then'Phu Khao Thong'. It rises within the compound of
collect food and necessities from ordinary peopleWat Saket, an unusual temple that houses Buddha
on the streets. This daily alms ritual takes place allrelics within its 58-metre-high chedi surmounted by
over Thailand and is part of the Buddhista golden cupola. Built by King Rama I just outside
philosophy of giving and making merit to attain athe new city walls, the late-18th century temple
better life beyond this one.served as the capital's crematorium. During the
Wat Phra Kaew -----------The Emerald Buddhafollowing 100 years, the temple became the
Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emeralddumping ground for some 60,000 plague victims.
Buddha is regarded as the most importantOther Temples
Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located in the theIn addition to Bangkok's must-see temples are:
grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines PhraWat Benchamabophit, Wat Bowonniwetwihan,
Kaew Morakot or the Emerald Buddha, the highlyWat Chanasongkram, Wat Intharawihan, Wat
revered Buddha image meticulously carved fromRatchanatdaram Worawihan, Wat Rakhang, Wat
a single block of jade.Ratchabophit, Wat Ratchapradit, Wat
Wat Arun in Bangkok -------------Temple of DawnSuwannaram and Wat Thepthidaram.
Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is