In 1782, King Rama I established his capital on Rattanakosin, an island bordered by canals and the Chao Phraya River. Some of Bangkok’s most important temples were built here. Wat Pho has more than 1,000 images of Buddha, including the must-see, 46-meter-long (151-foot-long), gilded reclining Buddha. Wat Ratchanadda is best known for its Loha Prasat, a 36-meter-high (118-foot-high) multitiered structure with 37 metal spires. Wat Sutat, constructed over the course of 40 years, houses a striking 13th-century gilded Buddha that was brought to Bangkok by boat.
