Golden Mountain Brightness

#bangkoktrip The Temple of the Golden Mountain rises in the historical part of Bangkok in the Rattanakosin Island area on an artificially constructed 60-meter hill in a bend of the Chaopraya River. Before the era of skyscrapers, it was the highest point of the urban landscape on the east coast (the palm tree on the west coast is held by Wat Arun or the 81 m high Temple of Dawn). Wat Saket is marked as Golden Mount on English-language signs and maps. Wat Saket has been rebuilt several times. The first king of the Chakri dynasty, which has ruled since 1782 and still reigns, ordered the restoration of an ancient religious building of the Ayutthaya era. During the reign of Rama III, a chedi was built. However, the architects made a mistake, and the swampy ground sank. Rama IV, better known in world politics as Mongkut, ordered the construction of an embankment mound with a diameter of 500 m and a height of 60 m, personifying the sacred Mount Meru — a sacred symbol of Buddhism, embodying Hindu-Buddhist ideas about the structure of the Universe. The embankment was reinforced with bricks and logs made of teak trees. A road leads to the religious building, to the right of which a canopy has been built to protect from the sun, and the sidewalk under it is covered with a coating imitating a green lawn. Spiral staircases encircle the base of the hill. One of them (with the inscription "up") is intended for ascent, and the other for descent. Unlike most temples in Thailand, you do not need to take off your shoes here, which is notified by an appropriate announcement. Shoulders and knees should be covered. There are no restrictions on photo and video shooting. A miniature replica of the Saket Temple stands on a stone at the entrance. The abundance of lush tropical greenery, reminiscent of jungle thickets, makes you forget that the life of the metropolis is boiling nearby. A quiet place immerses you in an atmosphere of tranquility and tranquility. Flowering jasmine and plumeria bushes fill the air with delicious aromas. Sculptures of animals and birds are installed among the plants, man-made waterfalls murmur. In the middle of the path there is a terrace with ritual bells and a gong, which emits a low vibrating sound when struck. There are also cafes and toilets here. and benches for relaxation. Lotuses float in vases filled with water. Going upstairs, visitors get to the observation deck, which offers panoramic views of Bangkok. A golden 15-meter stupa in the shape of a bell is topped with a spire.