Ibrahim Jabbari
The temple of Wat Suthat is recognizable by many visitors because of the giant red swing that sits just outside its entrance. The swing itself is made of teak wood brought to Bangkok from the province of Phrae, and it has been rebuilt and replaced a number of times. It stands some 21 meters tall, and was used during a Brahman festival in which men flung themselves using the two side poles in hopes of reaching a bag of gold that hung towards the top. The temple is one of the oldest in the city, and construction of the temple began in 1807 but wasn’t completed until about 40 years later.
Wat Suthat, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, +66 02 222 6935
