Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew) is a holy monastery on the grounds of Bangkok's Grand Palace and one of the most beautiful historical sites in Thailand. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is made up of a collection of amazing gold structures, houses a famous two-foot figure of Buddha in its assembly hall, or 'Ubosoth.'

The Emerald Buddha, which is really made of jade, is supposed to have been maintained in plaster casing in a Chiang Rai monument until it was discovered after the monument was damaged by lightning in the fourteenth century. It was found in 1464 and has since sparked several disagreements and even conflicts.

It was transported to Bangkok by King Rama I in 1782 and presently sits on a seat in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Emerald Buddha's attire, like that of other Buddha statues, is changed according to the seasons in a tri-annual process overseen by the Thai king. A sequence of paintings illustrating the Buddha's life, painted in the Ayutthaya style, may also be seen in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

As with the Grand Palace in general, having a guide with you, which you may arrange in advance, might be advantageous. The Grand Palace has a rigorous dress code.

Location: Bangkok