significance of the various temples in thailand and which ones most popular?

[ultimate weapon]

One thing you know when you go to say bkk is there are so many temples in there with so many names. If you check trip advisor a number of them are listed as tourist attractions. They all kind of look similar one way or another and this applies to temples, churches of other religions. Just curious is there any significance if a thai goes to pray in one particular temple over another one? Let's assume say wat phra kaew which should be the most famous temple in bangkok is it better to pray there compared to say wat pho?

Also why are most of these temples all listed as tourist attractions? I can list a whole host of them that are advertised as tourist attractions while they also double up as places of worship for local thais. It isn't really the case with say churches or maybe they are.

Anyway are these various temples something similar to catholic churches? Catholic churches are sometimes named after various saints and people with specific problems typically pray to them for help. Say maybe saint thomas for help.

Is this similar in thai temples? Say you need specific help you go to wat arun to pray. Then you wish for something else so you go to wat pho. Then perhaps you just want some blessings so you go to the nearest temple near your home.

[Kan Win]

Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn

Wat Pho, Temple of Teaching Traditional Thai Massage

Win

[gk10002000]

chimburi.com. Hundreds of temple visits and photos with short commentaries.