Thai temples are easy to spot from far away because of their tall, pointy spires - some covered in tiny pieces of mirror or coloured glass that catch the sun. The most famous one in Bangkok is called Wat Arun, the 'Temple of Dawn'. Its tallest spire is 79 metres tall, about the same as a 25-storey building.
Most wats are made up of several different buildings inside one walled garden. There is usually a main hall, smaller prayer halls, a building of bells, and a kitchen where monks prepare food. The roofs curl up at the corners like little flames, which Thai builders believe brings good fortune.
Many wats hang up rows of small bronze bells under their roofs. When the wind blows, they tinkle gently together. People also wrap orange cloth around old trees in the temple gardens, as a sign of respect. Children visit on weekends with their families.
Some Thai temples sit on top of mountains, reached by hundreds of steep steps. Others sit by rivers, with little wooden piers where boats can pull up. The most famous mountain temple is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, high above the city of Chiang Mai. Climbing the 309 steps to reach it is part of the visit.