| Rooftop Chedi of Golden Mount (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Rooftop Chedi of Golden Mount
Rooftop Chedi of Golden Mount
Golden Mount is also known as 'Phu Khao Thong'. It is a hill within the grounds of Wat Saket in Bangkok which is crowned with a 58m tall chedi covered with golden tiles. The Golden Mount gets it's name from the golden chedi on the top. This is covered in thousands of golden tiles and gleams in the sun.The Golden Mount started off in the late 19C when King Rama III decided to build a massive chedi to mark the entrance to the city. Unfortunately, the marshy ground was too soft to support the mass and the chedi collapsed in a pile of rubble. Buddhist beliefs forbid the destruction of places of worship and nothing was done to the Mount until Rama V built a second chedi on the top of the mound. He also built a shrine in which were places some relics including, according to some, some of the Buddha's teeth.
The mount is now mostly cased in concrete to prevent further collapse. About 320 steps ascend the mount in a spiral to the shrine at the top. Half way up are 2 rows of about 20 large bells that should be rung as you ascend. Within the shrine a narrow stairway ascends to the roof. The huge chedi dominates the center of the roof, and from here there are panoramic views over Bangkok. From here it is easy to see Wat Rajnadda, Loh Prasat, and the Pom Mahakhan Fort. The he Queen's Gallery and the King Prajadhipok Museum are also close to the base of the Golden Mount.
In November a large annual fair takes place at Wat Saket. At this time the Golden Mount is illuminated with hundreds of coloured lanterns.
Travel information about the sights and attractions in Bangkok from PanoramicEarth.com. Panoramic images and pictures linked to an interactive Bangkok map showing where the attractions in Bangkok may be found as you plan your holiday.
