🇹🇭 Solid Gold Buddha Temple | Wat Trai Mit | Bangkok

I had watched a National Geographic documentary about a Bangkok temple that is home to a seated Buddha statue made of approximately 5.5 tons of solid gold. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. So, while riding from Kanchanaburi south toward Phuket, I made a quick stop in Bangkok and headed straight to the temple. The security guards were surprised and amused to see a foreigner arriving on a big motorcycle, but they kindly allowed me to park right next to the temple’s main entrance. The statue is made of 18-karat gold and is estimated to be worth around US$250 million. But its history makes it truly priceless. The Golden Buddha is approximately seven centuries old and has survived three distinct eras of Thai history. Wat Traimit is remarkable not only for its golden treasure but also for its architectural beauty. Located on the edge of Bangkok’s Chinatown, the temple has special cultural significance. Its architecture reflects a blend of Thai and Chinese styles, making it a unique work of art. For centuries, the statue remained hidden beneath a thick layer of plaster, reportedly intended to conceal it from invading Burmese forces. Its true composition was not discovered until the 1950s, when the plaster covering cracked during its relocation. Pieces of the plaster that once concealed the Golden Buddha are now displayed in a museum at the temple. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ud1tDgXfjVEh8... For additional photos, please check this link: https://shorturl.at/KyDp7