Wat Traimit Temple

Address: Traimit Rd, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Website: http://www.wattraimit.org/

Hours: Daily 8:00am-5:00pm (times can vary around festivals)

Admission: Free entry to temple grounds; small fees for museum sections may apply

Wat Traimit is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok best known for housing the large solid-gold statue often called the Golden Buddha. The statue is a principal religious and tourist attraction in the city.

The temple complex centers on the shrine that displays the Golden Buddha and includes a small museum that presents the statue’s history and recovery. The statue is roughly 3 metres in height and weighs on the order of several tonnes, making it a remarkable example of Buddhist sculpture.

The present temple complex was built to enshrine and display the statue and to serve the local Thai-Chinese Buddhist community; the statue itself dates stylistically to an earlier historic period and was uncovered beneath plaster in the 20th century.

Wat Traimit is located at the southern end of Bangkok’s Chinatown, near Yaowarat Road and within easy reach of central Bangkok transport links.

• Golden Buddha: The seated Golden Buddha statue is about 3 metres tall and reputedly weighs around 5.5 tonnes, and is the temple’s principal attraction.
• Location tip: The temple sits at the edge of Bangkok’s Chinatown near Yaowarat Road and is within walking distance of the Hua Lamphong area and nearby MRT stations.

What to See#

• Golden Buddha Hall: Home to the Golden Buddha statue- a solid-gold statue of the seated Buddha that is the central exhibit within the main shrine hall.
• Museum: A small museum and exhibition space that explains the history and discovery of the Golden Buddha and displays related artifacts.

Wat Traimit is in Bangkok’s Chinatown area, a short walk from Hua Lamphong Railway Station or accessible by MRT to Hua Lamphong and a brief taxi ride. Alternatively, take the BTS to Saphan Taksin and cross the river by taxi or boat then a short road ride.

• Arrive early morning to avoid crowds and to see the Buddha in softer light inside the ordination hall.
• The temple is adjacent to Chinatown and the Hua Lamphong area-combine the visit with a walk through Yaowarat and the nearby River City complex.
• Dress respectfully: shoulders and knees should be covered when entering sacred interiors.