Known to visitors as “the Temple of the Emerald Buddha”, Thai people believe that this is the oldest sculpture of Buddha in the world, and it is this, combined with its mesmerising green glow, that makes it such an important religious icon.
Wat Phra Kaew is located within the Grand Palace and is probably the complex’s most visited temple. Built in 1785 at the request of King Rama I, the Emerald Buddha was moved here from Wat Arun on the other side of the river.
The temple itself is particularly beautiful, with gilded features and mosaics that reflect the bright Bangkok sun. The Buddha statue itself is surprisingly small, but unquestionably beautiful. Made from a single block of green jade and not from emeralds as it name suggests, the figure was discovered in the early 15th Century, hidden inside stucco in a temple in Chiang Rai.
The Emerald Buddha is shrouded in mystery. The fact that its age and origins have never been confirmed only adds an air of intrigue to the many different stories and legends that point to its creation and history before its arrival in Bangkok. Thai people believe that it will bring luck and fortune to all those who possess it.
The Emerald Buddha’s popularity may mean you have to wait in a queue with the pilgrims who come from all over Thailand to see the statue. There is a ceremonial changing of the statue’s outfit with every change of season, which is presided over by the King of Thailand himself. Inside the temple, there’s a model of the Cambodian temple Angkor Wat, where the Emerald Buddha was kept while it was under Siamese control.
Like the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is open daily, but closes mid-afternoon. You will need to dress respectfully and cover your arms, legs and feet. A taxi, ferry or tuk-tuk is the best form of transport for the temple.
