Temples in Thailand

There are over 31,200 Buddhist temples spread around Thailand. In Thai we call them wat. They are grouped into two main groups: temples which are permitted to carry out religious functions, and those which are used only for living quarters for monks.

Temples are classified into two main categories: Royal Temples and Common Temples. The Royal Temples were either built by royalty or came under their sponsorship. In Thailand, there are about 200 Royal Temples though there are only six of the highest grade. These are: