The great Buddha
About 15 metres in a tall hall.
Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand — CC0 · Don Ramey Logan — CC BY 4.0 · Don Ramey Logan — CC BY 4.0
A large temple on the Thonburi bank at the mouth of the Bangkok Yai canal, built in 1825 by a minister of King Rama III on land he donated, and named Kalayanamit, the good friend. Its great wihan is one of the tallest temple halls in Bangkok, facing the river under its tiered orange roof. Inside sits a huge seated Buddha about fifteen metres tall, almost touching the ceiling, deeply revered by Thailand's Chinese, who call it Sam Po Kong, so the hall fills with incense and flowers at Chinese New Year. The temple's tower holds the largest bronze bell in Thailand, and around the court stand Chinese stone statues that came as ballast on the old trading ships. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes off inside the halls. The nicest way there is a small ferry across the river from the Pak Khlong Talat side or Chinatown, or on foot over Memorial Bridge. Pair it with Santa Cruz Church and Wat Prayurawongsawat nearby on a walk along the Thonburi bank; they are minutes apart.
About 15 metres in a tall hall.
Bronze, in Thailand.
That came as ship ballast.
On the Thonburi bank at the mouth of Khlong Bangkok Yai, Thonburi, Bangkok
Ton Son MosqueRegarded as Bangkok's oldest mosque, on the bank of the Bangkok Yai canal in Tho3 minutes walk
Bang Luang Mosque (Kudi Khao)A unique mosque described as the only Thai-style mosque in the world, in the old4 minutes walk
Santa Cruz Church and Kudi ChinA pink-domed Catholic church on the Thonburi bank, at the heart of Kudi Chin, on4 minutes walk
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)The Temple of Dawn, one of Bangkok's best-known symbols, on the west bank of the6 minutes walk
Museum SiamA modern interactive museum opened in 2007 in the old Ministry of Commerce build7 minutes walkThey see the great Buddha here as Sam Po Kong, protector of sailors, and visit at Chinese New Year.