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Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan and the Golden Mount (Suwannabanphot) When it comes to viewpoints in Bangkok that are “easy to climb but seriously rewarding,” Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan and the Golden Mount almost always rank near the top. The temple lies just outside the old city wall line, beside Khlong Mahanak in an area that links key canal routes of historic Bangkok. That setting gives the place a layered atmosphere at once: an old temple, a waterside neighborhood, and a capital city still moving all around it. What people remember isn’t only the “temple,” but the man-made mountain that gently leads you upward to the summit of Suwannabanphot, where Bangkok suddenly opens up in a view completely different from street level.

 

Wat Saket was originally an older temple known as “Wat Sakae.” It was later re-established and extensively restored as a royal monastery during the reign of King Rama I (Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok), who granted it the new name “Wat Saket.” In that sense, the temple stands as strong evidence of how religious sites were positioned in early Rattanakosin Bangkok—both to support the new capital’s stability and to affirm a clear spiritual center within the city’s emerging structure.

 

The “Golden Mount stupa” is the next chapter that truly made Wat Saket a landmark. Construction began in the reign of King Rama III (Phra Nang Klao), inspired by the Golden Mount of Ayutthaya, and was completed in the reign of King Rama V (Phra Chulalongkorn). It was granted the name “Suwannabanphot.” As a mountain-like structure, it turns “going up to the chedi” into more than simply climbing stairs. It becomes a gradual shift in your line of sight and your inner rhythm—from the city below to a sacred space above.

 

At the heart of Suwannabanphot’s summit is the chedi that enshrines the Buddha’s relics. This is why the Golden Mount is remembered not only for its views, but as a place that holds “the highest object of Buddhist veneration.” The story of the relics being brought to Siam, connected with Prince Prisdang during the period when he was ordained in India, adds another layer for anyone interested in Thai religious history. It reveals both the international connections of the Buddhist world and the intention of the Thai state in that era to patronize Buddhism with dignity through a powerful, tangible symbol.

 

The season when Wat Saket feels most vividly “alive” is the festival of worship to the Buddha’s relics around Loy Krathong. Many generations of Bangkok residents recognize the atmosphere of a “7 days and 7 nights temple fair,” combining pilgrimage at the summit with the lively fair below. A special highlight is that, during the festival period, the temple often allows visitors to go up at night to pay respects to the relics—an experience distinctly different from an ordinary day. If it’s your first visit, the true must-dos are: go up to worship and apply gold leaf in reverence, enjoy the city view from the very top of Suwannabanphot, and set aside time to visit the ubosot area below to admire the Buddha images and mural paintings within the main temple grounds.

 

Climbing the Golden Mount itself has a charm that feels like a “ritual of walking.” You gradually rise along the winding path as the breeze grows cooler, the city seems to step back, and the noise softens. Near the top, the feeling naturally shifts from sightseeing into a more mindful state. And once you reach the high point, Bangkok appears in a single frame that can tell both past and present at once—old temples, canal-side communities, and the modern skyline stretching beyond.

 

Getting There There are several convenient ways to reach Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan. By public bus, you can choose routes that pass near the temple area, such as 8, 15, 37, 47, and 49, along with certain air-conditioned services listed in Thai travel information. If you want a stronger “old Bangkok” feeling, arriving by boat can be especially enjoyable. You can take the Saen Saep Canal boat to Phan Fa Lilat Pier and connect for a short onward trip, or take a boat on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem to Phu Khao Thong Pier. If driving, it is generally possible to park within the temple grounds, but you should allow extra time during Loy Krathong or festival days, when both visitors and traffic become much heavier than usual.

 

 

A: It is best known for climbing the “Golden Mount (Suwannabanphot)” to worship the Buddha relics at the summit and to enjoy panoramic views of Bangkok where the old city and the modern skyline appear in a single scene.

 

A: Construction began in the reign of Rama III and was completed in the reign of Rama V. Rama V granted the name “Suwannabanphot” to emphasize the monument’s grandeur and the sacred status of the summit chedi enshrining the Buddha relics.

 

A: Around Loy Krathong, the temple hosts the festival of worship to the Buddha relics, known for a lively 7-days-and-7-nights temple fair. During this period, there is often a special opportunity to go up at night to pay respects at the summit, which feels very different from an ordinary day visit.

 

A: Yes. You can take the Saen Saep Canal boat to Phan Fa Lilat Pier and connect for a short onward trip, or take a boat on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem to Phu Khao Thong Pier. It’s a fun way to experience canal-side Bangkok along the route.

 

A: Parking is generally available within the temple grounds, but you should allow extra time during festivals or temple-fair periods, when crowds and traffic are much heavier than on normal days.