There are many grand and majestic sacred sites throughout Thailand for tourists who are interested in making merit and paying respects to the Buddha. If you wish to admire their immense beauty but don't want to travel far or don't have time for trips to distant provinces, I would recommend the grand sacred sites in the Bangkok metropolitan area.
- The first recommendation is Phra Sri Sakyamuni Thotsapol Yan, the president of the Buddhists' governing body. This large standing Buddha statue is 15.875 meters tall and is located in the Phutthamonthon district of Nakhon Pathom province, which is not far from Bangkok. It takes about an hour by car to reach.
- The second recommendation is Phra Phutthasaiyasat, also known as Phra Non Wat Pho. It is enshrined in Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which is located in the heart of Bangkok. The statue is 46 meters long and reaches a height of 15 meters from the base to the top of the Buddha's head. The reclining Buddha statue itself is 5 meters wide and 3 meters high, making it the largest reclining Buddha in Bangkok and the third largest in the country.
- The third recommendation is Phra Phutthasri Ariyamaitreya, or Luang Pho Toh, at Wat Indraviharn, the Temple of the Standing Buddha. This giant standing Buddha statue is also located in the heart of Bangkok, within the Phra Nakhon district. It stands at a height of 32 meters, making it the second tallest standing Buddha statue in Bangkok.
- Lastly, there is Phra Phutthathammakaya Thep Mongkhon at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, which is located across the river from Bangkok in the Thonburi district. By visiting this temple, you can pay homage to the largest Buddha statue in Bangkok. The Phra Phutthasamathi statue, seated in meditation with a blooming lotus, is massive, with a width of 40 meters and a height of 69 meters, equivalent to a 20-story building. Its construction began in 2017 and it is made of 99.99% pure red-gold alloy.
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