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Temple Of The Emerald Buddha / Wat Phra Kaew

The 14th Century National Treasure

Located in the northeast corner of the Grand Palace of Bangkok, Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the highest-ranked Buddhist temple in Thailand. The temple houses a national treasure Emerald Buddha statue made of jadeite, and most of the buildings inside the temple, such as the Emerald Buddha Hall, the Library, and the Golden Stupa, have gorgeous and stunning exterior decorations.

Located in the northeast corner of the Grand Palace of Bangkok, Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, was built in 1782, along with the Grand Palace. Before King Rama I ordered the construction of the temple, he thought it should be a center of faith that could surpass all the monasteries of the previous dynasties, such as Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Now it seems that this Thailand's Highest-ranked Buddhist Temple has indeed fulfilled his long-cherished wish.

The Thai-style Ubosot, the Emerald Buddha Hall is the centerpiece of the temple and houses Thailand’s national treasure, the Emerald Buddha statue. This Buddha Statue Made of Jadeite is 66 cm tall and is enshrined on a golden altar. Most of the outer walls of the Emerald Buddha Hall are decorated with gold leaf and colorful mosaics, and 112 Statues of Mythological Figures.

National treasure Emerald Buddha and Three Seasonal Costumes (wikipedia)

Manywhere Trivia:
The King of Thailand personally dresses the Emerald Buddha every year according to the seasons.

On the platform north to the Emerald Buddha Hall, there are Three Giant Architectures, which are Phra Si Rattana Chedi the Golden Stupa, Phra Mondop the Library, and Prasat Phra Thep Bidon the Royal Pantheon, from west to east. The Stupa is used to enshrine the Buddha’s relics, while the Library contains the precious scriptures of Rama I, and the Royal Pantheon is used to commemorate the previous kings.

The cloister that surrounds the temple is decorated with 178 beautiful mural paintings. Starting from the north gate and navigating clockwise is a complete Rama Kien (Glory of Rama) Epic Mural, which tells the mythical story of Prince Rama and his brother saving his beloved wife from a demon. At each of the six entrances to the cloister, two Giant Guards are protecting the safety of the Emerald Buddha.

Intricate wall decoration

There are also a Cambodia Angkor Wat Miniature, stupas and royal tombs in the Wat Phra Kaew, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where the Thai royal family lived for nearly two hundred years, is also not to be missed after visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The Grand Palace

Splendid Thai Royal Palace Complex

The Grand Palace in Bangkok was built in 1782 on the orders of King Rama I. The Thai royal family lived in the Grand Palace for over a hundred years. The Grand Palace in Bangkok houses buildings such as the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.