Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok

The Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
It is located in the historic center of Bangkok within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The construction of the temple started when King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1787.

Unlike other temples it does not contain living quarters for monks. The main building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha. In the Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok there are three main doors used to enter the temple, however only the King and Queen are allowed to enter through the center door.
Even though it is small in size it is the most important icon for Thai people.

Legends hold that the famous statue, made of jade, originated in India, but it first surfaced in Cambodia and was given as a gift to the King of Ayutthaya in A.D. 1434.

The statue disappeared from history when Burmese raiders sacked Ayutthaya and the image was feared lost.

A century later the Emerald Buddha reappeared in Chiang Saen, after a rainstorm washed away some of its plaster covering.

The Emerald Buddha was then moved to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Mai, where it was removed by the Laotian prince Setthathirath to Luang Prabang, when his father died and he ascended the throne of both Lanna and Lan Xang in A.D. 1547.

In later years Emerald Buddha was moved to Vientiane. It remained in Vientiane for nearly 300 years until King Taksin of Thonburi brought it back with him after invading the Lao lands to Thonburi when he expanded his kingdom into outer regions in 1787.

The Emerald Buddha was then taken to Bangkok where it is resides today.

The wall surrounding the temple area from the outside only a plain white wall is painted inside with scenes from the Thai version of the Ramayana mythology, the Ramakian. Several statues in the temple area resemble figures from this mythology, most notably the giants.

Posted on October 10, 2002

Print PDF

RELATED PHOTO GALLERY AND POST

• Back to Bangkok

  Once again in Bangkok, once again 12 hours trip by airplane; once again the terrible heat cut my trough as soon as I jumped out from the airport. The humid weather in July during the monsoon season is really the worst one. It was the third time, and after the heat came to me the [...]...

• First time in Bangkok

  As soon as I came out from the airplane I was assaulted by the incredible heat and humidity of Bangkok. Finally I was there, in Thailand, my one way ticket gone, and the lady that makes me start the long trip was waiting for me at the airport. My English was not that good at [...]...

• Hours in Bangkok

  I spent nearly one year in a city distant a couple of hours from Bangkok, so all the weekends I was in Bangkok and I do can tell that the nightlife of the city is really amazing. After this first period of time I spent also several months inside the city itself in a cheap [...]...

• Visiting Bangkok

  Once again facing Bangkok’s nightlife, but this time I was with my best friend, he came in Thailand to pay me a visit there after years. Several times I dreamed to be there with him and have fun in the city that after years around Thailand I started to know quite well. I wanted to [...]...

• Udon Thani and Ban Chiang

  I spent in Udon Thani and Ban Chiang, a small town not far, several days as guest of good friends. The city Udon Thani is quite nice, not too much crowded and polluted as many are already also in north Thailand. I was on my way back from Laos and after several weeks there enter [...]...