The Golden Mount
Friday, April 25, 2008 – 9:54 pmThe Golden Mount could probably be the tallest non-modern structure of Bangkok. Visible from across long distances, it creates a sort of illusion of being closer. Once, as i ventured towards it from Wat Ratchanadda, its nowhere close to reach.
Golden Mount was a man-made hill located in the temple complex of Wat Saket, a Buddhist shrine. A Nepali serving the temple introduced that the Buddha relic housed atop the hill came from India; overruling any necessity to refer my guidebook. The Golden Mount was a culmination of the efforts of three consecutive Thai Kings to erect a Chedi there. Because of the soft soil, the first one erected by Rama III collapsed. Rama IV strengthened the pile of mud and bricks with teak logs and built the second one. But it still continued to sink and Rama V finally had a modern material, the concrete to built the third Chedi which stands there presently.
Entrance to Golden Mount stairs from Wat Saket
The staircase spiralling round the hill was long but quite easy because of the soft climb and gentle curve. And with plentitude of bells to ring by one side and vast scenery of Bangkok on other side, its quite a enjoyable ascent.
Still gotta climb 3 concentric rings of stairs round the hill! Surprisingly the Chedi is not visible anymore!!
From atop the shrine, a panoramic view of the Bangkok city unfolds… We see here the Wat Rajanadda complex.
View of the government buildings and the Mega Bridge from atop the Golden Mount.
Several such large beautiful wooden (not sure but certain by a knock) containers brimming with water and water plants can be found beside the staircase.
A miniature of the Golden Mount.
2 Responses to “The Golden Mount”
Nice Pics!
By Rajan on May 11, 2008