Wat Saket, often known as the Temple of the Golden Mount, is one of กรุงเทพฯ’s oldest and most unique temples, with roots tracing back to the พระนครศรีอยุธยา period before the 18th century. Originally called Wat Sakae, it underwent restoration and was renamed Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan by King Rama I when กรุงเทพฯ was established as the new capital, highlighting its importance in Thai royal and religious life. The temple sits just outside the old city of กรุงเทพฯ on a man-made hill, offering a distinct atmosphere from other temples located within the old city walls.
The temple’s most striking feature is the Golden Mount, an artificial hill standing about 75 to 80 metres high, crowned by a gleaming golden chedi or stupa. The hill itself was formed from the rubble of a collapsed chedi begun in the reign of King Rama III but abandoned due to the unstable soil. Later monarchs reinforced and completed the structure, notably King Rama IV, who added a new chedi housing a sacred Buddha relic. The Golden Mount was once the highest point in กรุงเทพฯ and remains a prominent spiritual landmark and pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
Historically, Wat Saket played a darker role as the site for cremating plague victims in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when thousands who died in epidemics were cremated here. The ashes were enshrined within the base of the Golden Mount, and the surrounding cemetery area, once grimly referred to as the ‘Ghost Gate‘, adds a poignant layer to the temple’s history. Despite this somber past, today the temple is a vibrant place of worship, cultural events, and traditional festivals, including the well-known Loy Krathong festival each November, when thousands make a candlelit pilgrimage to the summit.
Visitors to Wat Saket today can enjoy climbing the over 300 steps winding around the Golden Mount, pausing to ring bells along the path. From the top, they are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views across historic กรุงเทพฯ, including the old city and modern skyline beyond. The temple complex at the hill’s base includes several halls and shrines, offering a peaceful atmosphere for prayer, meditation, and appreciation of Thai religious art and architecture. The site remains a symbol of Thai spiritual heritage and resilience, merging centuries of history with living cultural traditions.
Wat Saket
กรุงเทพฯ
Thailand
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