Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic)

Bangkok Dolphins' Guide
ATTRACTIONS IN & AROUND BANGKOK

Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic)
(Tel. 2226011, 2228,004)

This is a very old temple on Na Phrathat Road between Silpakorn University and Thammasat University. The back of the temple faces the Pramane Ground, or Sanam Luang. Wat Mahathat was built during the reign of King Rama I and houses Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, one of the two highest seats of Buddhist learning in the country. Those interested in Buddhist meditation should visit Section 5, which is the head-quarters of Wipassana (insight) meditation in Thailand. Information and practice in English can usually be arranged according to the availability of suitable monks. The temple complex is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

A source for further information in Bangkok is the Tourism Authority of Thailand, phone 226-0060. If you are calling from outside the country, that number will need to be prefaced by country code 66, city code 2. In the U.S. the Tourism Authority can be contacted at (312) 819-3990, fax (312) 565-0359; in Canada at (604) 733-4540, fax (604) 733-4599; in Sydney at 9247-7540, fax 9251-2465; and in London at (171) 499-7679, fax 629-5519.