Wat Saket Insight Bangkok

Wat Saket

At the bottom of the Golden Mount stands one of the capital's oldest temples, Wat Saket (daily 8am-5pm free). Upon returning from Laos in 1782 with the Emerald Buddha, general chakri stopeped here and took a ceremonial bath before making his way later changed to Saket, which means "the washing or hair"

      The temple is also associated with a more grisly history as it was used as the old city's main crematorium. Disease epidemics broke out regularly during the 19th century, killing an estimated 60,000 people. The bodies of the dead were taken out of the city to the temple through the Pratu Pii (Ghost Gate) for cremation: if the families were too poor to pay for the ceremony, they were left for the vultures. Be sure to visit the main hall, which is adorned with fine murals and usually ignored by tourists.

Wat Arun

Insight Bagkok : Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.