The Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha statue dates back to the 14th century and was transported from the ruins of Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai via river barge.
The temple was specifically designed to house the bronze Sukhothai Buddha image after it was rescued from a ruined temple in northern Thailand.
The Giant Swing was used for the 'Triyampawai' ceremony, an ancient Brahmin ritual performed to thank Shiva for a successful rice harvest, until the practice was banned in 1935 for safety reasons.
The ordination hall is renowned for having the longest base of any temple in Thailand, measuring over 72 meters.
The courtyard contains 28 Chinese stone pagodas, representing the 28 Buddhas born since the beginning of the world.
Many of the stone statues decorating the grounds were brought from China as ballast in trading ships during the reign of King Rama III.
The temple's mural paintings are considered some of the finest examples of the Rattanakosin school, detailing the Jataka tales.
It is one of the few temples in Bangkok that holds the status of Ratchaworamahawihan, the highest grade of royal temples.
Wat Suthat Thepwararam is one of the ten royal temples of the highest grade in Thailand, commissioned by King Rama I and completed by King Rama III. The temple complex is anchored by the Phra Wihan Luang, which houses the Phra Sri Sakyamuni, a massive bronze Buddha statue salvaged from Sukhothai. The exterior walls are decorated with intricate Chinese stone carvings and pagodas, reflecting the trade influence of the early Bangkok period. Adjacent to the main entrance stands the Sao Ching Cha, or Giant Swing, a 21-meter-tall teak structure originally used in Brahmanic ceremonies. The ordination hall, or Ubosot, is the longest in Thailand and contains extensive mural paintings depicting the 24 previous Buddhas. The temple grounds feature a series of galleries lined with 156 gilded Buddha statues. It remains a functioning monastery and a center for Buddhist study in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district.
The elevated terrace of the Phra Wihan Luang provides a clear angle of the inner courtyard and the surrounding pagodas.
Walk the full perimeter of the cloister gallery to see the extensive collection of Buddha statues.
Look for the smaller, less-crowded shrines located behind the main assembly hall.
Visit the Giant Swing outside the main gate for a photo before or after entering the temple grounds.
Do not climb or attempt to touch the base of the Giant Swing; do not use flash photography inside the ordination hall.
Shoulders and knees must be covered; remove shoes before entering any of the temple halls.
