Wat Intharawihan (Temple of the Standing Buddha), Bangkok

Wat Intharawihan is one of Thailand's most frequently visited temples. Built during the later Ayutthaya period, it is located in the Nakhon District of Bangkok. The main feature of the temple is a 32 meter high, 10 meters wide standing Buddha known as Luang Pho To or Phrasiariyametri. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka and took over 60 years to complete.

The statue faces east, holds alms-bowls in hands and remains sheathed with 24K golden mosaics brought from Italy. The peculiarity of the image is that it is very thin with prominently flat facial features. However, as a whole, it displays a very modernistic architectural style.

A closer look at the gigantic image reveals that even the gilded toenails of the statue are quite large. Smaller Buddha images are also placed near the feet of the statue. Next to the entrance of the temple, many caged birds are available for sale. People believe that purchasing and releasing the birds while standing on the base of the statue brings good luck, prosperity and success. Many Thais, as well as tourists, visit the temple every day and make various offerings at the feet of the statue in order to mark their devotion.

Why You Should Visit:
To see the impressively large outdoor Buddha statue as well as the museum underneath and several smaller structures.