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A Wat (Temple) is the Buddhist compound for religious functions.
Ordination of monks, housing important relics, performing everyday ceremonies,
holding festivals - all these happen in the wat. All villages have at least one
temple; towns and cities have several. Bangkok has more than 500 temples. Wats
are open to all visitors. Most are closed on holidays and during important
temple ceremonies such as ordination.
Entrance is usually free; the most famous ones charge a small fee to certain
areas. Additionally, there may be another small charge for parking on the temple
grounds. Donations are always appreciated. There are different ways of donating
money: using a donation box or buying candles/golden leaves/lotus flowers and
other ceremonial objects. The larger wats also have Buddha images and amulets
for "rent" (for sale).
Inside the compound
Unlike chruches and mosques, which usually house everything in one building,
a Buddhist temple consists of multiple buildings in one compound. Each building
or construction fulfills a unique function: The Bot (Ubosot)
serves as the ordination hall where novice monks get ordained into the order.
This is also the building where Buddha's teaching are recited. This place is
considered sacred.
Viharns are chapels where monks assemble and lay-people gather for
Buddhist rituals, meritmaking, sermons etc. Bots and Viharns are structurally
and stylistically very similar; one major architectural difference is that the
former has sema (boundary stones) that separate the consecrated area
from the outer world.
The purpose of many wats is to house an important Buddha relic, for which
they build a chedi (relic chamber), a bell-shaped, golden or white
structure. This used to be the most prominent feautre of the wat, but its
significance declined in the late Ayutthaya period and early Rattanakosin
period. Stupas perform the same function, but are less circular shaped and are
more intricately carved. Many types of stupa are of Khmer origin, and appear
only with the most important religious buildings. Mondop, Prang (corn-shaped
stupas), Po Rakang (bell tower), kuti (monks' dwellings), scripture halls and
crematoriums are characteristic structures of a typical Thai Buddhist temple
ground.
Dress code and respectful behavior
Like religious buildings of other cultures, the Buddhist temples of Thailand
have a set of strictly enforced rules for correct dress code and behavior on the
sacred grounds. Tank-tops, short-sleeved shirts, shorts, open-heeled sandals are
considered improper wear; visitors dressed in such manner will be prohibited
from entering the wat. Temples that are frequented by tourists may have proper
clothes and footwear for rent, but smaller temples may not.
Sitting and climbing on Buddha statues is prohibited (should be obvious, but
it isn't). All statues of Buddha must be treated with reverence, no matter how
weathered or ruined they may appear. Women cannot touch monks. If you choose to
participate in Buddhist ceremonies, you are welcome to do so in most cases. As a
rule of thumb, observe what Thais do around you, and follow them. Do not sit
cross-legged on the floor! Buddha and the monks may do it, but laypeople don't.
Obey the signs! If photography is prohibited, don't "sneak" a few pictures
in. Eating and drinking are other prohibited activities.
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not to bad,huh?
chandan 
