Wat Mahathat Verified listing

Situated between the Grand Palace and National Museum, Wat Mahathat is an important royal temple that is home to the Vipassana Meditation (Insight Meditation) centre, headquarters of Thailand’s largest monastic order, and the country’s oldest higher education institute for Buddhist monks. Built during the reign of King Rama I, Wat Mahathat (then known as Wat Salak) has been renovated and elevated in status by several Thai kings throughout the past two centuries. It has been used for royal ceremonies and funerals. Just opposite the temple is a sprawling amulet market.

Wat Mahathat offers a refreshingly peaceful space devoid of crowds. Children and adults will enjoy strolling among its beautiful grounds, seeking out the hundreds of Buddha images housed in cloisters along the walls enclosing the compound.

You can easily combine a visit to Wat Mahathat with the nearby Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho or Sanam Luang.