WAT TRAIMIT

Wat Traimit more popularly known as the Golden Buddha is the world's largest solid gold statue.It is located in Chinatown district of Bangkok was discovered by accident when it was accidentally dropped when they were moving the statue from Ayutthaya to Bangkok revealing solid gold under a plastic casing.

 The statue was plastered  over to prevent it from being stolen by the Burmese,it was covered with thick layer of stucco which was later painted.

In 1801, King Rama I, after he established Bangkok as the Kingdom's capital when he ordered that various Buddha images should be brought to Bangkok from the ruined temples around the country.

 

 Up until the time of King Rama III (1824-1851) the statue is still covered with stucco. It was the main Buddha at Wat Chotanaram in near Chinatown. But when the Wat Chotanaram  was closed due to disrepair it was moved to Wat Traimit. It was kept for 20 years under a simple tin roof since the temple didn't have a building big enough for the statue.

 It was only in 1955, when a new building to house the statue was built in the temple when they discovered the real statue. During their final attempt to lift the statue from its pedestal, the ropes holding the statue broke and the statue fell down on the ground causing the stucco casing to fell off thus reveling the golden Buddha.

 When the plaster was being removed, it was also found that the gold statue actually consists of nine parts that all fit together. A key was also found at the base. This key could be  used to disassemble the statue to facilitates its transport.

 The building that currently housed the Buddha was inaugurated only  in February 14 2010.

 

 

 Also found in the temple is the Bangkok Chinatown heritage centre.

 

 

 Yaowarat Heritage Centre covers the history of the early Chinese immigrants in Bangkok. it is located on the first level of the building. the museum is organized as a U-shaped room divided into several areas.

 

 

Near at the base of the building is another temple. (pic 2802, 2805, 2807