Wat Saket, Buddhist temple in Ban Bat district, Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Saket is a Buddhist temple in the Ban Bat district of Bangkok, Thailand, perched atop an artificial hill crowned by a golden chedi. The complex includes several prayer halls, shrines, and terraces that spiral around the central mound.
The temple originated during the Ayutthaya period, when it was known as Wat Sakae, before extensive renovations began in the 19th century under King Rama III. Construction work on the artificial mount took several decades and was finally completed under King Rama V.
The name means literally "Temple of the Golden Mount," and locals refer to it simply as Phu Khao Thong when speaking about this landmark. Monks living here follow daily routines of prayer and meditation that visitors can observe from the walkways surrounding the main courtyard.
The stairway to the top winds through gardens with trees and small shrines, with several levels offering seating areas for resting. The climb is more comfortable in early morning or late afternoon when the heat eases.
During construction, the artificial hill repeatedly tilted to one side because of unstable ground, forcing engineers to spend decades creating a stable structure. Today, the base of the mount contains soil from sacred sites across Thailand, brought here to bless the location.
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