IN THE MAIN THAI tourist destinations we offer a variety of attractive trips and activities, allowing you to break away from the shopping malls and sandy beaches, to explore the cultural side of a city or the countryside in an enjoyable and fun way. We have full day, half day and evening excursions, both private and group. If the minimum participants required for a joined trip is not met, you can do the trip privately by paying a supplement.

1,200 THB pp

You can do this half day trip in the morning or in the afternoon. First we visit Wat Saket, better known as the Golden Mount. This temple is built on an artificial mount. The hill was created after a large chedi, still under construction by Rama III, collapsed due to the soft soil beneath. The hill of sand and brick that arose was left until Rama IV had a small chedi built on its peak.

Later Rama V made restorations and added to the structure by placing a relic of the Buddha from India, given to him by the British government, in the chedi.

To prevent erosion the hill was cast with a surrounding concrete covering during WW II. The temple mount is 77 meters high and was in the Rattanakosin period the highest place in the city. Even today it still offers a good view over rooftops now overshadowed by skyscrapers. The temple is one of the few throughout Thailand conferred with the highest royal title of Rajavora Maha Vihaan. Its full name is Wat Saket Rajavora Maha Vihaan and it is depicted on two baht coins, initially issued in 2005.

At the bottom of this hill there is a place where alms bowls are made. We will take a look at them and see how these craftsmen assemble Buddhist monk’s begging bowls from 8 different pieces of metal, representing the eight spokes of the dhammachakka, the Buddhist Wheel of Law, and the Eightfold Path. Note that it is not guaranteed that the workers will be present.

From there it is on to the giant swing in front of Wat Suthat. It was formerly used during a Brahman festival in honour of the Hindu god Shiva, in which participants tried to reach a sack of gold attached to a fifteen meter high bamboo pole. It was held in the second lunar month, from the morning of the third day until the evening of the ninth day of the new moon.

Due to the large number of people falling off the swing the festival was banned during the reign of king Rama VII. In 2007 the old giant swing was replaced with a new one.

Here we also visit a Hindu Shrine and the plaza in fron of the City Hall which has the full name of Bangkok written in Thai on a wall. It is the world’s longest name, recorde in the Guinnes Book of Records as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. It translates as 'City of Angels, Great City, Immortal Jeweled City, Impregnable Fortress of the god Indra, Capital of the World, Decorated with Nine Jewels, Dwelling place of Happiness and Provided with Enormous Palaces not inferior to the Heavenly Dwelling Place of an Incarnated god, Gift of Indra, Built by Vishnukam'.

From here we continue to the Marble Temple, known as Wat Benjamabophit, in Thai. It was built around the turn of the 19th. century by order of king Chulalongkorn. The temple is made from white Carrara marble from Toscana and has a cruciform bot. The base of the central Buddha image (fig.), which is a copy of  the Phraphutta Chinnarat image from Phitsanulok, contains the ashes of king Rama V. In the gallery of the courtyard behind the bot there are 53 Buddha images (33 originals and 20 copies) that represent different poses and styles from throughout Thailand and other Buddhist countries.

Before heading back to our hotel, we take a look how Thai Gems are manufactured. Here you will have the opportunity to buy quality jewelry at local prices.

TRIP CODE: BKKSA003 - BOOK NOW