Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha

About this place

A temple at the edge of Bangkok's Chinatown, famous for its Golden Buddha, roughly the world's largest solid-gold statue, weighing about five and a half tonnes and nearly three metres tall. The statue has a remarkable story: for centuries it was hidden under a layer of painted plaster, perhaps to protect it from invaders, until it was dropped while being moved in the 1950s, the plaster cracked and the gold showed through. The statue now stands in a modern white marble hall at the top of the complex, while the lower floors hold the Chinatown Heritage Centre, telling the story of Chinese migrants to Bangkok, and an exhibition on the statue's history. The temple's name means three friends, after three Chinese friends said to have founded it. The fee to see the statue is a token amount, about a hundred baht or less, with the museum extra. It opens daily from eight to five; the museum closes on Mondays. Modest dress is required. Half an hour to an hour is enough, and it is a good start to a walk through nearby Yaowarat Chinatown. For Arab visitors it is a stop to see the golden masterpiece more than a religious destination.