Hotels near Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing

Wat Suthat ranks among the six highest-grade royal temples in Thailand, a status that reflects both its age and its artistic importance. Construction began under Rama I in 1807 and was not completed until the reign of Rama III, nearly 40 years later. The main ordination hall holds the 8-metre-tall Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha, one of the largest surviving Sukhothai-period bronzes, which was transported by river from the old capital. The interior walls are covered floor to ceiling with murals from the Rattanakosin period depicting scenes from the Jataka tales, Buddhist cosmology, and daily life in 19th-century Siam.

Outside the temple stands the Sao Ching Cha (Giant Swing), a 21.15-metre-tall frame made entirely of golden teak. Originally erected in 1784 for a Brahmin ceremony in which participants would swing to great heights to grab a bag of gold coins, the ritual was banned in the 1930s after several fatal accidents. The current structure is a 2005 replacement built from six teak logs donated by the Royal Forest Department. Admission to the temple is 100 THB (about 2.60 EUR). Photographing the swing framed against the temple roof makes for one of Bangkok's most recognisable compositions.

Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday morning when the ordination hall is nearly empty. The Jataka murals require slow, close inspection to appreciate their detail, and you will want the space to yourself for that. Combine with Wat Saket, which sits a 15-minute walk to the northeast.