Wat Mahathat
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On Sanam Luang’s western side, with its main entrance on Thanon Maharat, Wat Mahathat (daily 9am-5pm; free), founded in the eighteenth century, provides a welcome respite from the surrounding tourist hype, and a chance to engage with the eager monks studying at Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University here. As the nation’s centre for the Mahanikai monastic sect (where Rama IV spend 24 years as a monk before become king in 1851), and housing one of the two Buddhist universities in Bangkok, the wat buzzes with purpose. It’s this activity, and the chance of interaction and participation, rather than any special architectural features, which makes a visit so rewarding. The many university0attending monks at the wat are friendly and keen to practice their English, and are more than likely to approach you.
Situated in Section Five of the wat is its Vipassana Meditation Centre, where 1-4pm & 6-8pm or goto www.section-5.org for further information. Participants generally stay in simple surroundings of the meditation building itself (donation requested), and must wear white clothes (available to rent at the centre) and observe the eight main Buddhist precepts. Talk with English on meditation and Buddhist are held here every evening (8-9pm), as well as at the International Buddhist Meditation Centre (room 106 or www.mcu.ac.th/ibmc) in the Mahachulalongkorn University building on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month (3-5pm).
