Temples
Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram)
A seven-storey building with 37 metal spires, opposite the Golden Mount. Unlike anything else in Bangkok, and a short stop.
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Loha Prasat, the "iron palace", is a multi-tiered temple building at Wat Ratchanatdaram in the Old Town, topped with 37 metal spires. It is unlike any other building in Bangkok, it stands opposite the Golden Mount, and it is a short stop that suits a second day in the Old Town.
Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram)
An unusual seven-storey building with 37 metal spires, opposite the Golden Mount.
Wear: Shoulders and knees covered.
- Built
- Begun in 1846; building restarted in 1960; opened to the public in 2007 (Wikipedia) (checked October 2026 · source)
- Allow
- 20–30 minutes
- Go
- Combined with the Golden Mount, in the morning or late afternoon
- Pair with
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Wat Suthat & the Giant Swing
- Getting there
- Phanfa Leelard · Khlong Saen Saep Boat
What it is
Wat Ratchanatdaram means "Temple of the Royal Niece". It was built on the orders of King Rama III in 1846 for his granddaughter, Princess Somanass Waddhanawathy, at the junction of Ratchadamnoen Klang and Maha Chai roads (Wikipedia). The 37 spires have a metallic finish, which gives the building its name, and they represent the 37 Bodhipakkhiya Dharma of Buddhism, the "factors of enlightenment".
The building
Loha Prasat has seven storeys arranged in three levels. The lowest has 24 spires, the middle level 12 and the top one: 24 + 12 + 1 = 37. At ground level a labyrinth of columns supports the structure, and in late 2007 pictures telling the history of the building were installed in the corridors.
It is based on an old Buddhist design, modelled on two earlier structures in Shravasti in India and Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, neither of which survives. The Indian one is said to have had 1,000 rooms with a golden spire on top; the Sri Lankan one had nine floors and a roof thatched with copper. Wikipedia describes this as one of two such buildings that remain.
A long build
The building was planned in 1846 but not completed in Rama III's reign. Later kings tried to finish it, and building only restarted in 1960 under Rama IX, supervised by the Fine Arts Department. A Buddha relic was placed in the topmost spire in 1995, and the building opened to the public in 2007.
How it compares with its neighbours
| Loha Prasat | Golden Mount | Wat Suthat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Known for | Unusual metal-spired architecture | A climb and a view over the Old Town | A major bronze Buddha and murals |
| Scale | A small site | A hill of about 300 steps | A large temple compound |
| Time | A short stop | About an hour with the climb | Around an hour |
The time estimates are ours; the other two pages give the sources for their details.
Hours and entry
We couldn't find an official timetable or price (checked October 2026), so check at the gate. The temple is small enough that you will not need long.
Getting there
- Khlong Saen Saep boat to Panfa Leelard pier, a short walk away; see the canal boat guide.
- MRT Sam Yot, then a walk.
- Taxi or Grab from the Old Town.
Combining it
Loha Prasat is directly opposite the Golden Mount and a short walk from Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing. A second-day Old Town loop could be the Golden Mount, Loha Prasat, Wat Suthat and a lunch in the shophouse restaurants around Maha Chai Road (Bangkok street food). Dress as for any Thai temple, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin)The historic royal heart of the city, and where most first trips begin. It is also more pleasant to stay in than most visitors assume.
- Best Temples in BangkokYou don't need to see ten temples. You need to see the right three, in the right order, and maybe one quiet one where you can actually sit down.
where to next?
- Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin)The historic royal heart of the city, and where most first trips begin. It is also more pleasant to stay in than most visitors assume.
- Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)A gilded chedi on a hill, a gentle spiral of steps, and the best open view over the Old Town. It's the temple to save for late afternoon.
- Wat Suthat and the Giant SwingBehind the red Giant Swing is a royal temple with a very long painted hall and a bronze Buddha from Sukhothai. It is usually quieter than the big three.
- Best Temples in BangkokYou don't need to see ten temples. You need to see the right three, in the right order, and maybe one quiet one where you can actually sit down.