Wat Ratchabophit, Bangkok

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Built by Rama V, Wat Ratchabophit has all the wat essentials - intricately designed halls decorated with chinese porcelain, soaring golden chedi, and a peaceful ambiance - but with a western twist. The temple has strong European influence as seen from the outfit of the carved guards on the door.

Personally, I find the delicate chinese porcelain (known as becharong; photo 4) very appealing as do the gothic and baroque inspired miniature monuments (for honoring the dead?) outside the temple entrance (don't know if they are part of the temple complex; photo 3). The other endearing quality is the peacefulness of the whole temple, perhaps because it does not attract as many tourists as the grander Wat Phra Kaew across the park.

Few tourists come here. It' must are the doors decorated with armed guards and the coloured chinese tiles. Doors and windows in the ubosot are adornade by royal insignias in gilded black laquer inside and mother of pearl inlay outside. The interior is dark, all brown and gold.
Open daily 8.00 - 17.00. Admission fee: 10 THB