Wat Suthat is one of the oldest in Bangkok, and instantly recognizable from the roof architecture which is similar to that of the Grand Palace.

This is very much the heart of old Bangkok, near the Chinatown district and the National Monument.

Inside the temple there is one of Bangkok’s finest Buddha images. The main Buddha image, Phra Si Sakayamuni was orginally cast in the Sukhothai period (1238-1438 A.D.)

Eight-metres tall, on a six-metre pedestal, the image is the largest bronze-cast one in the kingdom and considered one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand.
Another fine feature on the outer walls of the temple are the wall paintings or frescoes, regarded as some of the best in Thailand.

The Giant Swing

Outside, The Giant Swing is at the centre of a traffic flow, but again is very easy to spot.

The high red construction was originally a huge arch with a swing underneath where people used to celebrate the rice harvest

Furthermore, it was used competitively in a contest designed to seek the brave man who could swing the highest to seize a money bag from a 25-metre-high pole.

After countless injuries and even deaths due to high level antics on the swing at the festivities, the Giant Swing ceremony and the contest was discontinued in 1934.

What remains is the framework of the swing, but is no the less, and interesting place to visit along with Wat Suthat.

With an admission fee of 20 baht, the temple is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Getting to Wat Suthat & The Giant Swing: Take the Skytrain to National Monument and then take a taxi.