Temple of the Golden Mount

วัดสะเก็ด

A historic temple crowned with a golden stupa atop an artificial hill, offering panoramic views of old Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. The annual Loy Krathong Festival transforms the temple grounds into a dazzling light show, making it especially worth visiting during November.

Things to do

• Climb the Golden Stupa — Ascend the 318 steps spiraling up the artificial hill to reach the gleaming golden chedi at the summit and ring the blessing bell for good fortune.
• Panoramic Temple Ground Walk — Stroll around the temple's multilevel grounds to admire the ordination hall, Buddha statues, and view the surrounding old Bangkok neighborhoods and Chao Phraya River from various vantage points.
• Loy Krathong Festival Experience — Visit in November to witness thousands of illuminated krathongs (floating vessels) released into the waters and the temple grounds ablaze with colorful lights and decorations during Thailand's most magical festival.
• Merit-Making with Monks — Participate in early morning alms-giving rituals by offering food to passing Buddhist monks, a deeply respected daily practice that visitors can join respectfully.
• Buddha Image Veneration — Pay respects at the various Buddha statues throughout the temple complex, particularly the significant images housed in the main ordination hall.
• Temple Museum Visit — Explore displays of religious artifacts, historical photographs, and explanations of Buddhist practices and the temple's construction history within the compound.

Food to try

• Khao Tom (Rice Soup) — A comforting breakfast soup of mild rice porridge typically served at temple-adjacent stalls with pickled vegetables, salted egg, and fried shallots.
• Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Maew Mamuang) — A beloved Thai dessert of sweet sticky rice paired with ripe mango, often sold by vendors near the temple grounds, especially during mango season.
• Pad Thai — Stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp, tofu, or chicken, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts—a staple dish available at numerous small restaurants surrounding the temple.
• Temple Merit Food Offerings — Simple vegetarian dishes and sweets prepared by temple volunteers that devotees offer to monks; some are sold to visitors as blessed food for sustenance and merit.

Local customs & good to know

• Remove Shoes in Sacred Spaces — Always remove your footwear before entering the ordination hall and any building housing Buddha images, as this shows respect in Buddhist practice.
• Dress Respectfully — Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees when visiting; many Thai visitors dress in neat attire as a sign of reverence for the sacred site.
• Respectful Photography — Ask permission before photographing monks or intimate prayer moments, and never position yourself above Buddha images or statues when taking photos.
• Counterclockwise Circumambulation — When walking around the main chedi or stupa, move in a counterclockwise direction, which is the traditional Buddhist practice believed to accumulate merit.