Wat Suthat is among the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok
and is home to the beautiful 13th-century Phra Buddha Shakyamuni, a
25-foot (8m) tall bronze Buddha image that was brought from
Sukhothai and containing the ashes of Kind Rama VIII. It is also
known for its exquisite wall paintings, done during the reign of
Rama III. The enormous arch made of teak outside the wat is all
that remains of an original swing which was used to celebrate and
thank Shiva for a bountiful rice harvest. Teams of men would ride
the swing on arcs as high as 82 feet (25m) into the air, grabbing
at bags of silver coins with their teeth. The swing ceremony was
discontinued in 1932 due to countless injuries and deaths, but the
thanksgiving festival is still celebrated in mid-December after the
rice harvest.
Travel guide by (c) Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
