Wat Saket – or ‘The Golden Mount’ – is a little out-of-the-way from the regular tourist routes in Bangkok. There are no train stations nearby, so to get there it’s either a half-hour walk from the Grand Palace precinct, or a short tuk-tuk ride – whichever you prefer.

I was in Thailand back in January and made the decision to visit this place – doing so on foot via a conveniently-placed McDonald’s on the way – and it was certainly worth the effort.

There was a small entrance charge (for foreigners) of one-hundred Thai Baht, or around five dollars Australian. It’s no big deal as not only is the spectacle worth the price of entry, but the money is contributing to a good cause. I should also point out that most of the major temples around Bangkok sting tourists a similar admission fee.

The only way to the top is via a winding staircase that makes its way past misty waterfalls, and then onto a number of different landings. The first level features a large gong and an arrangement of bells, before the steps continue upward toward the temple itself.

Situated at the end of the steep uphill slog is the entrance and ground floor of the temple, featuring an assortment of statues, artwork and other religious symbols. There is plenty to look at here, but the real attraction is waiting for you beyond the next flight of stairs. Of course, I’m talking about the spectacular rooftop.

Wat Saket was built atop the only hill in Bangkok, and as a result the panoramic view of the city is impressive. There’s usually a bit of smog about, but the river, modern skyline and surrounding temples and palaces can all be seen clearly.

But amidst the constant chanting of the monks, golden statues and breathtaking views, I did observe a few quirky and unusual things about this place – see below for some examples.

These modern wonders stood inside the temple and were only a few feet away from some sacred shrines and ancient displays – quite the juxtaposition. To be honest, I think it’s a great fundraiser for the monks to sell ice-cold drinks, as many tourists would be thirsty after walking up to the summit in the heat and humidity. Open the fridge door, grab your icy beverage, and pay the old man in robes sitting at the counter. It’s a little unusual, but I’m all for it!

Near the base of the hill is a rather morbid depiction of vultures eating dead bodies. The birds are pecking away at victims of the many Cholera outbreaks that Bangkok suffered throughout the nineteenth century. Apparently, thousands of people were cremated at Wat Saket during these times, but it was impossible to keep up with demand, so corpses would begin to pile up everywhere. Of course, this is where the vultures enter the story – as seen in the display.

Next to the gruesome vulture statues is a small white pagoda, and within is something known as ‘Buddha’s footprint’. I had never seen anything like this before, and it was fascinating to learn that it is of great spiritual significance.

I was intrigued by this sign outside the temple, for although the instructions are clear, a lot of people ended up taking off their shoes. Could it be that the colour should have been green instead of red? I think this is what tricked most folks.

Wat Saket is a great place to visit when in Bangkok, especially as a ‘side mission’ away from the hectic crowds around the popular tourist hot spots. I did take some video footage while I was there and uploaded it to YouTube. It didn’t get anywhere near as many views as some of my other Thailand clips, but I’ll put the link below anyway.