Wat Saket Temple of the Golden Mount (Phu Kaho Thong), Rong Mueang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand วัดสระเกศภูเขาทอง รองเมืองปทุมวัน กรุงเทพฯ ประเทศไทย |
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Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan has on the west side of the
grounds the Golden Mount or Phu Khao Thong, ภูเขาทอง. The steep climb up the
Golden Mount puts everything back in perspective and offers views over
Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was
created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III
collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it. The resulting
mud-and-brick hill was left to sprout weeds until King Rama IV built a small
Chedi on its crest.
King Rama V later added to the structure and housed a Buddha relic from
India in the Chedi. The concrete walls were added during World War II to
prevent the hill from eroding. Every November a large festival, held on the
ground of Wat Saket, includes a candlelight procession up the Golden Mount. Wikimapia location |
Scenic Photography by Gerry Gantt from Thailand, the land of Golden Wats. All images Copyright © 1999 - by Gerry Gantt, all rights reserved. |