Wat Traimitr - Bangkok

Have you ever seen a 100 tons, solid gold Buddha statue?!!!...no???...me either, coz I don’t think one exists in the world. But you’re in luck!...there IS a five and a half tons, solid gold Buddha statue right here in Bangkok. REALLY!..no joke!...this Buddha image is located at “Wat Traimitr” (pronounced Trai-mit) , in the Chinatown or “Yaowaraj” (pronounced Yao-Wa-Rard) area.
This Buddha image’s official name is Phra Sukhothai Traimitr, and is one of Thailand’s most famous Buddha images. He is 3 meters in height and weighs 5.5 tons, and all in solid gold!. The story behind his discovery is quite interesting, as he was first covered in plaster and appeared just like any other stucco Buddha images.

However, when he was being moved using a crane, some clumsy crane operator accidentally dropped him and the plaster cracked, thus revealing his golden secret. You see, he was originally covered in plaster during the 18th century, to prevent the invading Burmese from taking him to Burma. It would be quite ironic if that crane operator was Burmese himself (we have many Burmese migrant workers here in Bangkok).

You can go check out this amazing golden Buddha if you’re in the “Yaowaraj” area. The golden Buddha is discretely housed in a small shrine behind a larger shrine.

Right after entering the main entrance, you’ll be greeted by a worship area lined with Buddha images and lit incense. You can go in there and take pictures and/or pay respect to Lord Buddha. However, to get to the main attraction, walk down the small alley left of shrine where you’ll you see a booth to pay a small entry fee. The shrine is next to the currency exchange booth, just go right up the steps as the sign indicates .


ADMISSIONS FEE
20 Baht per person


HOW TO GET THERE

* Walking: If you’re in the Chinatown area already, you can try your luck and walk towards the end of Yaowaraj road, where you’ll reach the gate to Chinatown. Just ask any Thai person how to the temple from there, they’ll point you the right direction.
* Underground train (MRT): Take the train to the last stop, Hua lamphong station.
* Taxi: Just tell them “Wat Traimit” and make sure they turn on the meter first.
* Tuk-Tuk: I would only recommend taking a tuk-tuk if you’re in the Yaowaraj area, otherwise it would be too expensive. Before you get on, negotiate the price first. A fair price should be somewhere between 30-50 baht.

HOURS
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Daily)