Bangkok's temples are a unique part of the capital's heart and soul. The architecture is awe-inspiring and the glittering decoration is stunning. The temples or wats are an important part in Buddhist traditions, Monks live in the temple complexes, attend to prayers and duties and then collect food and necessities from ordinary people on the streets. This daily alms ritual takes place all over Thailand and is part of the Buddhist philosophy of giving and making merit to attain a better life beyond this one.

Wat Phra Kaew -----------The Emerald Buddha
Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located in the the grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot or the Emerald Buddha, the highly revered Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade.

Wat Arun in Bangkok -------------Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is believed that after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, which was besigned by a Burmese army at the time, King Taksin arrived at this temple just as dawn was breaking. He later had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of the Dawn.

Wat Pho -------------Temple of Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located behind the splendid Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It's the largest temple in Bangkok and famed for its huge and majestic reclining Buddha measured 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf. The Buddha's feet are 3 metres long and exquisitely decorated in mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.

Wat Mahathat
The headquarter of Thailand's largest monastic order and Vipassana Meditation centre, Wat Mahathat is an important centre for the study of Buddhism and meditation. Although most programmes are in Thai, there are some in English and the temple has become a popular place to learn the Vipassana meditation method.

Wat Traimit --------------Temple of Golden Buddha
Located at the end of Chinatown's Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Railway Station, Wat Traimit houses the world's largest golden seated Buddha measuring nearly five metres in height and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco and plaster.

Wat Sutat --------------------Great Swing
One of the oldest temples with a sweeping elegant roof and the site of the original Giant Swing ceremony. A huge teak arch, all that remains of the original Giant Swing are in ruins in front of the temple. The swing was used in a ceremony to give thanks for a good rice harvest. Young men would ride the swing high in the air, suspended 80 feet from the ground when in full swing.

Wat Saket ----------------------Temple of the Golden Mount
The grubby yellow hill crowned with a gleaming gold chedi is also known as the Golden Mount, or 'Phu Khao Thong'. It rises within the compound of Wat Saket, an unusual temple that houses Buddha relics within its 58-metre-high chedi surmounted by a golden cupola. Built by King Rama I just outside the new city walls, the late-18th century temple served as the capital's crematorium. During the following 100 years, the temple became the dumping ground for some 60,000 plague victims.

Other Temples
In addition to Bangkok's must-see temples are: Wat Benchamabophit, Wat Bowonniwetwihan, Wat Chanasongkram, Wat Intharawihan, Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, Wat Rakhang, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Ratchapradit, Wat Suwannaram and Wat Thepthidaram.