Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok

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The Tallest Standing Buddha Temple is what our tuk-tuk driver said he would take us to. Of course, not before taking us to a couple of retail stores before we realized that he must get kick backs from retailers who want tourists to stop off at their establishments. Anyway, we finally made it here and sent our tuk-tuk driver on his way because we didn't want to waste the rest of our day shopping. It stands 32 meters high (over 100 feet). Suppose to be the tallest Buddha in the world. The temples, themselves, are not as impressive as Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Pho.

At the time I finally came to this temple my interest in temples had begin to fade. I had already been to Angkor Wat and couple other temples in town and I had kinda felt like I seen enough of them. We were in the area so we stopped by the big buddha for a glance. It was worth the 20 minutes and about 1$ that was spent to see it, but I wouldn't go way out of my way to check it out. It is supposedly the tallest buddha statue in the world. The Wat you see in the picture I added, is basically what you get. Ha! Play on words!

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I visited Wat Intharawihan during a visit to Bangkok in September 2007.

This temple is dominated by the 32 metre high Buddha image that towers over the buildings below it, and is quite a spectacular sight!

Entry to Wat Intharawihan is free and you will have no problem finding a tuk tuk driver willing to drive you there and wait around while you take your photographs. It seemed that every tuk tuk driver and tout that stopped me in Bangkok recommended a trip to see the “giant standing Buddha”.

Surprisingly, the giant standing Buddha received very little coverage in my guidebook and so I was completely unaware of it until the tuk tuk driver offered to take me there.

As well as the giant Buddha, there are a host of smaller Buddha icons standing at his feet.

At the entrance, a man was trying to sell small bird cages with 2 or 3 birds in them (90 Bahts / approx. 1.50 GBP). The idea was to purchase a cage and then stand at the base of the giant Buddha and release the birds. It all seemed a bit cruel to me, and I didn’t like to think of somebody profiting from such practices, so I declined a cage.

Wat Intharawihan….the temple with the giant Buddha!

This temple may not be the most popular wat among tourists in Bangkok. I read about this temple by chance. It has a huge golden standing buddha outdoor. This buddha is the tallest of its kind in the world. This is one of the world records that Bangkok holds. In the temple complex, there is a temple with mural depicting the making of the big standing buddha. There is a small building that has a collection of holy water around the world. There is a shrine for goddess kuanyin.

entrance: FREE

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A Chinese temple adjoins this Wat, with an almost two-dimensional 32metre cut-out Buddha towering above the neighbourhood. It's not the most attractive of Buddhas you'll see, but its certainly different (and I love the slightly pursed lips expression)! But its worth checking out if you are in the area - the Thai and Chinese temples sitting side by side, full of relics and statuary, as well, as you approach it, you end up literally exploring the backstreets.

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Though not nearly as awesome as Wat Traimit, Wat Intharawihan (Wat In), or Temple of the Standing Buddha is worth a visit only if you have extra time. Even as I stood before this gigantic 32 meter tall buddha, I regretted not seeing the others instead. After I took some photos from afar, trying to fit the whole image into my lens, I swooped in for a closer look. Sometimes the beauty can be found in the details as in this case. Upon closer inspection I noticed that the buddha's 'skin' is made up of tiny mosaic glass pieces which resembled the scales on a fish. I found the buddha's feet to be the most amusing part, with some toes as if pedicured with pretty flower designs.

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One of the many Wat's to go see...the tuk tuk drivers just seem to take you there...this one was called the Standing Buddha (for obvious reasons).....it was quite impressive and worth the look. Very peaceful and quiet in th earea and vendors selling flowers and Caged birds for people to release....I read somewhere not to buy the birds...it supports the system and from what I understand, the birds fly back to the owner and they do the same thing all over again....we bought the wreath of yellow flowers for the sake of it....20 Baht ea....not bad for the experience AND you can then wish for something...at least I think you can....who knows....in any case, the structure was cool and we were glad to see it.

The temple was built prior to Rattanakosin period, called Wat Bang Khunphrom Nok after it's located district. Later on, it's name was changed to Wat Intharam to honour Chao-In who had renovated the temple and invited a monk from Vientiane of Laos to be the temple's abbot.