One of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks is the famous Golden Mount. It is an artificial golden hill from which you can enjoy wonderful views of the capital of Thailand, and at the top of which is one of the oldest temples in the city, Wat Saket.
To get here, you used to take a tuk-tuk for a ridiculous price, and you took a tour of the most popular places to see in Bangkok in exchange for going into some shops to see if you could buy something, so you spent more time there than on the visits themselves.
Nowadays, there are different ways to access this place, and many of them are on a tuk tuk tour through Bangkok while visiting some other monuments as well, but without feeling cheated.
The hill has a spiral staircase to reach the top. Along the way, at different heights, you will find some sections with bells that people ring as they climb the 318 steps to the top.
As you climb, and as you do so in a spiral, you get 360º views of the city of Bangkok. Some of them are already starting to be spectacular and help you forget about the tremendous heat that reigns in these countries (and even more so when climbing stairs…).
Once you get to the top, you’ll see that it’s full of people. On top of that, there’s air conditioning inside, so many people take advantage of the opportunity to take a breather and cool off. Some are praying, others are making donations…
On one side, there is a small reclining Buddha covered in gold foil that the faithful usually stick on as an offering.
It is a common sight to find the faithful praying and making offerings with incense, just as happens in many temples in Bangkok.
Finally, at the highest part of Golden Mount there is a chedi, which is a large golden bell-shaped dome that houses some relics.
From here, at a height of about 80 meters, it is a good place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and let your eyes wander, taking in everything.
