Panorama taken inside Wat Traimit, also called the Golden Buddha Temple for the 10 foot high statue of Buddha made of solid gold shown in this picture. It seems remarkably un-protected for such a large amount of gold.

Golden Buddha in Wat Traimit - Bangkok visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Golden Buddha in Wat Traimit' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Central Thailand.

The Golden Buddha sits inside Wat Traimit (วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร), a 13th century temple at the eastern end of Chinatown in Bangkok. Because of the statue this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chinatown.

The Wat Traimit Golden Buddha is officially known as Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon (พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร), and it is the largest solid gold statue of Buddha on earth. The image is thought to be about 900 years old and with Buddha cast in Sukhothai style, seated in Bhumisparshamudra posture with with the right hand touching the earth signifying Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. It is about 10 feet high and weights just over 5 tons.

The Golden Buddha originally stood in a temple in Ayutthay, the old capital of Thailand and was at some point covered in stucco plaster to hide the gold from looters and then forgotten. King Rama III had the statue moved to a temple where the Hotel Orient now stands.

In the 1930's, reconstruction of parts of the Chao Phraya river near Chinatown required that the gold painted, stucco image of Buddha be moved, and Wat Traimit was chosen as the new home. For 20 years it stood under a simple tin roof as the temple did not have a hall big enough to house it. Then in 1955 a new hall was built and the statue was to be moved in. However, the construction workers dropped it and left it lying in the mud. The next day the abbot of Wat Traimit came to inspect the damage, and noticed the glint of gold underneath.

Wat Traimit
Traimit Road
Samphanthawong
Bangkok

Bus: Thanon Traimit (วัดไตรมิตร) (4, 25, 53, 75)
Ferry: Marine Department Express Boat Pier
Train: Bangkok Railway Station