Loha Prasat (Wat Ratchanatdaram)

Loha Prasat stands within Wat Ratchanatdaram, a royal Buddhist temple at the corner of Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue and Maha Chai Road in the Phra Nakhon district of old Bangkok. King Nangklao, Rama III, ordered the temple built in 1846 for his granddaughter, Princess Somanass Waddhanawathy, and its name means Temple of the Royal Niece.

The Loha Prasat, or Metal Castle, was modelled on two earlier buildings of the same name, one in India and one in Sri Lanka, both now lost. That makes the Bangkok building the only surviving Loha Prasat in the world. Work continued over many reigns and was finished much later, with major restoration completed in the 2000s.

The building rises in three tiers to about 36 metres and is topped by 37 metal spires, said to stand for the 37 virtues that lead toward enlightenment. Inside, a maze of narrow, symmetrical corridors runs through the lower levels, with a central spiral staircase leading to the top. From the upper level there are views over the old city, the Golden Mount and Democracy Monument. A relic of the Buddha is kept in the top chamber. The temple grounds also include an ordination hall, a viharn and a market for amulets nearby.

The temple is a short walk from the Golden Mount and Khao San Road, and it faces the Mahachesadabodindranusorn Pavilion, used to receive royal guests.

Entry to the temple grounds and the Loha Prasat has been free, with donations welcome. Visitors must dress modestly and remove shoes in the halls.

Is there a charge to enter Loha Prasat? Thai visitors enter free. Several travel guides report that foreign visitors are asked for 20 baht toward upkeep at the Loha Prasat, while others describe entry as free with donations welcome, and no official notice was found. Carry small notes and expect a modest charge or donation box. The site opens daily from about 8 am to 5 pm, and hours can shift on Thai public holidays.

The full temple name is Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, a first-class royal temple. Monks still live and study here. The climb to the top of the Loha Prasat is by stairs only, and the passages are narrow, so it is not suited to wheelchairs.

Combining it with nearby sights. The Golden Mount, Wat Saket, lies across Maha Chai Road, about 10 minutes on foot. Phra Sumen Fort and Santichaiprakan Park on the river are about 15 minutes north-west. The Khlong Saen Saep express boat stops at Phan Fa Leelard pier, a few minutes from the temple, and is the quickest way to reach the area from central Bangkok without sitting in traffic. Visit in the morning before the heat, then walk to the Golden Mount for the afternoon views.