History:
Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, commonly abbreviated to Wat Saket, is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Pom Prap Sattru Phai District, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya era when it was still known as Wat Sakae. Bangkok became the capital. King Rama I (1737-1809) renovated the temple and gave it its current name (which roughly translates to “to wash hair”): It was believed that King stopped to take a shower after returning from the war and Wash his hair here before entering the city center.
Wat Saket in Bangkok’s Old Town is an Ayutthaya-era shrine with a gleaming golden chedi in Bangkok. Also known as the Golden Mountain, it sits atop an 80-meter-high artificial hill built during the reign of King Rama III. The temple welcomes worshipers year-round, although it is busiest during the annual temple fair in November during Loy Krathong. The temple grounds feature ancient trees and typical Buddhist structures, such as the main prayer hall, an ordination hall, and a library.
The Golden Mountain at Wat Saket:
Golden Mount is a holy pilgrimage site during the week-long worship season in November. To get to the top, one has to climb about 300 steps surrounding the chedi like a loosely coiled snake. The well-paved road is relatively easy to navigate, especially if you visit Bangkok early in the day or in mild weather. Wat Saket was the capital’s crematorium and dumped for around 60,000 plague victims in the late 18th century. I will find an unusual graveyard covered in vines and overgrown trees.
Provides a pretty spooky atmosphere from that era. Once you reach the top of Wat Saket, you will be surrounded by a wall of bells and have a view of Bangkok’s old town.
Temple Fair at the Golden Mount:
Following an annual ceremony to venerate the Buddha’s relic, Wat Saket holds a grand temple fair during Loy Krathong, usually in November. The Golden Mount marks the start of the week-long festival. Colorful lanterns, decorative flags, food vendors, fairground games, and attractions bring Wat Saket to life. Large crowds fill the temple grounds from late afternoon to midnight throughout the week. Plan to go as early as possible to avoid long lines at Golden Mountain.
There are three steps/parts in Wat Saket that is Start, Middle and top;
Towards the top of Wat Saket:
At the base of Wat Saket, you will find several seats, a small temple and several statues. As a bonus, once you’ve bought your ticket, you can climb the 300+ steps to the top in the Thai heat. Stairs wind around the temple; the first part is designed as a tropical garden with small waterfalls. Sounds great, right? a well-camouflaged mass grave from the 18th century.
Many Thais died from the plague in those days, and thousands of bodies were cremated here. Black and white photographs have been placed here and there among the rocks to commemorate those miserable times. Boxes are systematically placed along the entire staircase of the Golden Mountain, through which you can constantly hear the voice of a Thai man, which we take for a prayer. In any case, it gave us a mysterious feeling as we walked up the stairs.
Middle hall of Wat Saket:
Ahead, the tropical plantation stops and passes several bells and a gong that anyone can ring if they wish, all for good luck. Before you even reach the top, there’s a middle room where sacrifices can be made to Buddha. When entering this room, you can keep your shoes on; this is also clearly marked. As this is totally in line with what everyone is used to, you will see that many people still take off their shoes. Incidentally, drinks, snacks and ice cream are also sold here.
Some people might think that this is also the highest point of Wat Saket. That’s not the case. So after the refreshing ice cream or drink, keep walking, or you will miss the most beautiful sight of your visit.
Top of the Wat Saket:
Through discreet doors, slightly hidden in the corners of the central corridor, you reach the steps that lead you to the highest point. From here, you have an unobstructed view of Bangkok on all sides. The first skybar On a clear day, you can see the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun on the Chao Phraya River. Remember to look straight down to see the monks’ quarters.
