Th 11 - The Most Sacred of All

"Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind."
Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha.

Wat Phra Kaew
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
วัดพระแก้ว

Since I've been cheated by the tuk-tuk driver, I only arrived to the Grand Palace compound around 5.00pm - and it's already closed! I go back to my hotel - frustrated but make another plan to be there early next morning.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace are situated in the same place. These places shouldn't be missed by anyone that visited Bangkok. The place can be reached with the Chao Phraya tourist boat / ferry - just stop at the Maharaj pier. There are rules and regulation need to be followed as these are the most sacred place for the Thais.

It open daily from 8.30am till 3.30pm Some buildings may close during holiday or ceremony. All visitors need to wear modest cloth - no shorts, sleeveless shirt etc. Fee : THB 300 for foreigners; language audio guide available for rent for THB 100. The ticket can be use to enter the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wimanmek Palace and the Coin Museum.


From left : Ticket booth; the Personal Audio Guide (PAG) rental booth - just beside the ticketing office.

Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha regarded as the Thais as the most sacred place in Thailand. It one of the most convenience place to visit as you wouldn't lost in this huge place. Near the main entrance, a lot of tourist guide will wait for you to be hire around the temple and also the Grand Palace. If you prefer to travel alone, audio guide in 5 main languages available at the ticket booth for rent. I decided to choose the audio guide as its give me some freedom to move around the place.

It will guide you around the temple and palace and informed you the important places that you should see.

From left : Statue of the Hermit Doctor aka Cheewaka Komarapach - Father of Thai's Traditional Medicine with mortar as his symbol - the first thing that you will see upon entering the temple ground; one of the 178 mural painting on the temple's wall depicting scene from Ramayana story (Ramakien).

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi : a Ceylonese-style pagoda covered in gold mosaic enshrines relics of Buddha.


From left : Phra Mondhop - library that contains Buddhist scriptures; Phra Viharn Yod - structrure of porcelain floral design topped by a spire in the shape of Thai Crown that contain impotant Buddha images.


From left : Golden Chedis surrounded by various mythical creatures - built to honour King Rama I's father and mother; Phra Asada Maha Chedi - one of the 8 Prangs dedicated to Buddhist precepts.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon aka The Royal Pantheon - statues of 8 kings of the Chakri Dynasty are keep here.


From left : Statue of Goddess of Mercy sits in front of the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha; Hor Phra Khanthara Rat - small pavilion houses the Buddha image used in Royal Ploughing Ceremony.


From left : Belfry aka bell tower; Salarai or open pavilions surround the temple.

Wat Phra Kaew - contained the Emerald Buddha.

The Emerald Buddha - created in India circa 43 BC by Nagasena. Initially requested by King Anuruth of Burma to support Buddhism in his country, the statue lost on his way but suprisingly landed in Cambodia. The statue was brought to Ayutthaya when the Thai captured Angkor. The image disappeared when Burmese raiders sacked Ayuttaya 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. It was then moved to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Mai, where it was removed by prince Setatiratt to Luang Prabang, when his father died and he ascended the throne of that Siamese vassal state. In later years it was moved to the Siamese vassal state of Vientiene. Later when Siam fought with Laos - the statue was recaptured back again and was kept in several places till to this temple now. Sigh - long history but whose the righteous to keep this statue? Is it Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos or Thailand? Or should they reconsider to give it back to India? Guess the winner will keep it!

The Emerald Buddha - from far as no photograph can be taken inside the chapel!

There are three different sets of gold clothing, which are changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons around March, July and November. The two sets of gold clothing not in use at any given time are kept on display in the nearby Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Thai Coins on the grounds of the Grand Palace, where the public may view them.

So heavy ...