The Golden Mount
A hill from a collapsed stupa's ruins.
Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 · Radosław Botev — CC BY 3.0 pl · Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0
A steep artificial hill crowned by a gleaming golden stupa, known as the Golden Mount, within the old temple complex of Wat Saket. In the nineteenth century King Rama III wanted to build a huge stupa here, but it collapsed during construction because Bangkok's soft soil could not bear its weight; over the years the ruins became a hill, on which later kings built the present golden stupa. You climb some three hundred steps spiralling round the hill among trees, small waterfalls and bells, up to a terrace overlooking all of old Bangkok: temple roofs, the Grand Palace and modern towers on the horizon. It is one of the best near-free viewpoints in the city. Foreigners pay about a hundred baht to climb, while the temple grounds themselves are free; it opens daily from about half past seven to half past five. The steps are gradual and not especially hard. The best time is just before sunset, when the light softens over the city. It is close to the old town, so it pairs with Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing in half a day.
A hill from a collapsed stupa's ruins.
All of old Bangkok from the top.
Among trees and small waterfalls.
Pom Prap Sattru Phai, near the old town
Wat Suthat and the Giant SwingOne of Bangkok's first-class royal temples, begun by King Rama I in 1807, with K9 minutes walk
Yaowarat (Chinatown)The main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown and the Chinese community's trading centr18 minutes walk
Bangkok National MuseumThailand's main museum and one of the largest in Southeast Asia, occupying the o20 minutes walk
Grand Palace and the Emerald BuddhaThailand's most famous landmark: a lavish royal complex of palaces, halls and te21 minutes walk
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)One of Bangkok's oldest and largest temples, directly south of the Grand Palace 22 minutes walkNo: the steps are gradual with rest spots, and most people reach the top in ten to fifteen minutes. Bring water on hot days; late afternoon is kinder than midday.