Temple of the Emerald Buddha also known as Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram is Thailand’s most hallowed Buddhist temple. It contains a statue of the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaeo Morakot), which is revered as the palladium of the country. The statue is made of a single jade stone. According to legend, the Emerald Buddha came from India. He is believed to bring prosperity to each country in which he is located.
The ancestor of the temple was King Rama I. Construction began in 1783. Just one year after the Great Palace was built. According to tradition, each successive king added some decoration to the temple during his reign to glorify the ruling Chakri dynasty.
Wat Phra Kaew comprises a number of structures located on the grounds of the Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok’s old town, only 5 min walk from the Bangkok National Museum. There are several buildings for particular spiritual needs, designed in different Thai styles of architecture, but abiding by the conventional guidelines of Thai traditional religious architecture.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEMPLE OF EMERALD BUDDHA
- No one but the Thai kings are allowed to touch the statue of the Emerald Buddha.
- The Emerald Buddha statue is in Ubosot, the main temple building.
- The Emerald Buddha depicts Lord Buddha’s journey from India to Nirvana five hundred years ago.
- The relocation of the Emerald Buddha to Thailand was a symbol of the Charkri dynasty’s consolidation of power over the Kingdom.
- The Emerald Buddha statue managed to travel a lot and even stayed in neighboring Laos for 2 centuries.
DRESS CODE
Dressing rule is strictly enforced in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. No tight-fitting clothes, arms and legs must be covered. There is a store where you can buy all the clothes you need, but the prices are twice as high as on the street. The general rule is to use clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
ENTRANCE FEE
The entrance fee is 500 THB for foreigners and free for Thai people.
We recommend buying a combo trip to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and various scenic locations. This is a half-day trip on a modern and comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. The price is 650 THB only. Book your ticket online.
THE TEMPLE OF EMERALD BUDDHA LOCATION
- Address: Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. Download the map from here.
- Tel. 022243290
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_Kaew
OPENING HOURS: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm daily
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CONCLUSION
Rare world heritage of art and architectural culture. Visiting this temple is like walking through a museum. From the murals and reliefs to the exquisite sculptures. The Emerald Buddha is the focal point of this temple. You can see some of the locals praying in this room. If you want to experience the beauty of this place, try to avoid rush hours with crowds of tourists. Sometimes the temple is open at night.