The Golden Mount

---

It was one of those days where the clouds were out in force but the sun, despite their best efforts, still managed to come down heavily on the bare necks of the pedestrians. The car drivers and tuk-tuk riders were in their usual rush but I; well I was taking full advantage of my chance to see the sites. I’d made a list of the places to see near the office, the Giant Swing, just a block away, the Golden Mount, about a klick down the road and several other wats and monuments, I didn’t want to put too much on my plate as I knew I’d come across a few gems along the way that wouldn’t be on google.
As I headed out of the office, sure that my boss had gotten her directions wrong, I began to wonder if I’d chosen the right day for sight seeing, like I said, it was HOT! and the clouds were no longer white and fluffy. I was prepared for a righteous soaking as the clouds rolled in, but that's all part of the beauty of being in Bangkok.
As I made my way up the road, and then turned around because I thought I knew my way around better than my boss, only to turn back around when I realized I didn’t, I walked past a small temple with a canopy of flags streaming from the central spire to the buildings around the walls, I figured it for a perfect place to start being a tourist so I whipped out the camera and started snapping away. Of course, when one takes pictures with the intent of publishing online, the artsy, ‘get the lighting right’, side of a person comes out, I spent about 5 minutes taking pictures of very little, and I don’t even think I got the lighting right.
When I finally made it to the Golden Mount, or Phu Kao Thong, the feel of the place took me aback. In spite of the reconstruction of one of the smaller temple houses and the bustle of the road outside, the place felt calm, there were no people milling about aimlessly, no blankets strewn with generic trinkets, it was calming. The bottom of the mountain was covered in vegetation and through it, one can see several small shrines pockmarking the side.
The Golden Mount was started under the rule of Rama III in 1831 but wasn’t completed until 1877, under the rule of Rama V. Climbing the spiral steps that run along the edge there are several levels, the first level I got to was lined with prayer bells for people to ring as they walk along, saying a silent prayer with each toll. There are 2 more levels, each with prayer bells, before reaching what I can only describe as the penthouse, other travel sites say that there is a 10 Baht entry fee but I entered without being asked.
In the center of the building is a golden shrine, located directly under the chedi, or spire on the roof. People come to pray and rub gold leaf one the shrine, I saw a couple walking around the shrine with their palms together in prayer. Climbing the narrow stairs to the top I came to the roof where perhaps the first things I saw was the huge towering golden chedi, at each corner of the platform there were more, smaller prayer bells, hanging in a pine tree-like formation. Visitors were kneeling down in prayer before the chedi and before making my way back down I knelt down to think a few thoughts in the serenity of the place.
The walk down was, for lack of a better word, free, there was no rush and I found myself almost wishing there were more than the 300-odd steps. Before reaching the bottom there was another shrine but this one was in memory of those who had passed. Inlaid into the stonewall of the mount were marble slabs commemorating loved ones, each with its own offering of juice, sweets or a few Baht. What a beautiful place for them to rest.

---

Photos

The Golden Mount
View of the topmost point from the street

The Golden Mount
View through the trees

Buddha in a cave
One of the many small shrines inlaid into the side.

Prayer Bells
Some of the prayer bells lining the first level as I climbed the steps to the top

The central shrine
A view of the central shrine where people can pray and rub gold leaf

The tippy-top
I think this picture is pretty self explanatory, the top-most point of the temple

Comments

[Xiomara]

Your photo of the central shrine is pretty damn incredible. I like "buddha in a cave" too <3

[Tabetha]

..... an accolade to Mum!!!!
...... just thought, maybe all those years of dragging you round temples, castles, palaces and suchlike in so many countries has paid off ........... !!!