Wat Traimit Wittayaram is better known as the “Temple of the Golden Buddha” and for good reason.

Wat Traimit possesses a three meter high, five ton solid gold Buddha image or statue. More than 700 years old, it is the largest golden Buddha in the world, and an exquisite work of craftsmanship.

This is the one and only claim to fame which Wat Traimit has…but it is quite an impressive claim.

The fact that the Buddha is solid gold was discovered by accident in 1957, when it was accidentally dropped by a crane and it outer shell of plaster disintegrated, revealing the true composition of the statue.

Historians believe the golden Buddha had been covered with plaster to hide its value from an invading Burmese army.

Wat Traimit is at the end of Yaowarat Road near, the Bangkok Railway Station (Hualampong), just west of the intersection of Krung Kasem and Rama IV roads. ..very near Chinatown. It is up a flight of stairs overlooking a school.

At last check, a 20 baht admission was charged to view the statue.

The building where the statue resides is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.