Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing

Want a cultural onslaught? Want to experience the rich history of Thailand? If yes, then go to Wat Suthat, one of the oldest and most glorious of Thai temples. Famous for the magnificent Buddha image, frescoed walls and of course the majestic swing. The first thing that catches your eye about this temple is the giant swing. The only thing that remains now is the huge red frame, it is extremely tall, and you can get vertigo just by looking at it. In the olden times a team of men used to swing on this going as high as 82 feet. Swinging signified an offering of prayer to Lord Shiva for a bountiful harvest.

The temple was built by King Rama I, who was the founder of the Chakri dynasty, to house the Phra Buddha Shakyamuni, a 25 ft tall Buddha image. It is said that Rama I brought this image by river from Sukothai. Festivities were announcedand the image was carried in a joyful procession to the specially built wihan.
The walls of the Wat Suthat are extensively adorned with beautiful paintings which were commissioned by Rama II; but work on them was probably completed by Rama III. These splendid murals depict the Jataka Tales, stories about the 24 previous lives of Buddha. The style of painting is believed to be transitional, starting out with traditional Thai style but showing western influences later on. The pillars nearest the door harbor paintings which depict the first westerners who came to Siam. These murals had undergone extensive damage mainly due to bat droppings and were restored to their former glory only in the 1980s.
This temple reaffirms the close ties between Buddhism and Hinduism. There are two nearby shrines dedicated to Hindu gods, Deva Sathan which is adorned with the images of Shiva and Ganesh, and Saan Jo Phitsanu dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Hindu Brahman priests of this temple officiate at important state ceremonies.
The cloisters around the wihan harbor more than 150 Buddha images around the outer wall. The temple has a unique system wherein it allows patrons to adopt a statue for restoration purposes on behalf of a beloved deceased person, the ashes of that person are contained either in the base of the Buddha image or on the side. The ashes of King Rama VIII, brother of the current King are contained in the base.
Outside you can see numerous Chinese padogas, horse figures and figures of Chinese soldiers which were brought over from China as ballast by the river.