One of the most famous Buddhist statues in the world is the Golden Buddha Statue located in the iconic Wat Traimit Temple in the Heart of Bangkok. Discover the fascinating tale behind this precious statue as well as other graceful elements of Bangkok’s cityscape when you check into a stylish hotel near Siam Paragon Bangkok such as the chic surrounds of the Vic3 Bangkok. With slick yet elegant interiors and the warmth of tropical hospitality, you’ll feel right at home at one of the best three star hotels in Bangkok. Drawing tourists and locals each day in droves is the Wait Traimit, which enshrines the resplendent Golden Buddha Statue, which smoothly claims the title of the world’s largest golden statue, no easy feat to replicate. It is believed to have found its genesis during the Sukhothai Dynasty, which held sway during the 13th and 14th centuries. Strongly influenced by Indian culture, the statue is dated back to this era on the basis that its elongated face (typifying the South Asian noggin) was the primary style of cranial construction at the time. Later, the statue was moved to Ayyuthaya, during the height of its prosperity. However, at some point the statue was covered in stucco and decorated with bits of coloured glass to prevent its theft – a wise decision as it lay amongst the Ayyuthaya ruins until 1801, when the ruling monarch decreed that all abandoned Buddhist statues be compiled in Bangkok. Installed in a small temple and nearly forgotten, the statue’s golden past lay hidden for almost 200 years – until the faithful day of 25 May, 1955, when it was being moved. It slipped from its roped and thudded to the floor, chipping away a corner of the stucco that then revealed the treasured figure contained within. Complete restoration was gradual, and when unveiled, the Buddhist community interpreted it as an auspicious event, as the timing of the find coincided close to the observation of the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha’s death. It is a splendid spectacle to witness and well worth a visit during your next visit here.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
Google+
