It seems like it’s been in the planning and construction stages for years, but the giant Golden Buddha statue of Wat Traimit finally has a new home. The impressive new building was opened to the public on 14 February 2010, Chinese New Year day. The old chapel housing the Buddha was a very cramped place, barely big enough to hold the statue, but the new structure is much more roomy. The chapel housing the Golden Buddha now sits atop a high stepped ziggurat-like building. The lower floors now house interpretive centers covering the history of the Chinese in Thailand (second floor) along with background on the Golden Buddha itself (third floor).

The museum displays are quite impressive, with ample use of 3D animations, dioramas and models. It’s all very high tech. All this added value comes at a higher price, though. Admission to see the Buddha itself is now 40 Baht, while a visit to the museum will set you back an additional 100 Baht.

For more information about Wat Traimit and the background of the Golden Buddha, see the Bangkok for Visitors guide to Wat Traimit.