Wat Phra Kaew (commonly known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is one of the most important structures in the Grand Palace.
Located in the centre of a series of walled cloisters, the central shrine dates to the very founding of the Grand Palace and houses the venerated Emerald Buddha.
A pair of majestic, 5m-tall yakshis (or mythical giants) guard the entrance to the ubosoth (main building), which is characterised by a roof of polished orange and green titles, pillars inlaid in mosaics and marble pediments.
Inside, the Emerald Buddha sits atop a huge gold altar in the temple's main hall, or boht. The petite, 66-centimetre tall dark green statue is carved in jade in the meditating posture in the style of the Lanna-style of northern Thailand. The interior walls are decorated with late Ayutthaya-style murals depicting the life of the Buddha.
In an important ritual, the Thai King (in his role as the highest master of ceremonies for all Buddhist rites) formally changes the seasonal costume on the statue three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter and rainy seasons. The king also sprinkles water over the attending monks and believers to bring good fortune to the country during the upcoming season.
According to art historians, the Emerald Buddha was crafted in northern Thailand in the 14th century and housed first in a temple in Chiang Rai then in Chiang Mai, before being taken by Laotian invaders and installed on a temple in Laos for around 214 years.
Following a successful military campaign, King Rama I brought the revered statue back to Thonburi. In 1784, the king moved his capital across the river to Bangkok and installed the statue in its present shrine.
Other monuments to admire include the Phra Si Ratana Chedi, a 19th-century Sri Lankan-style stupa housing ashes of the Buddha; the Phra Mondop, a library built in Thai style by Rama I, known for its finely crafted Ayutthaya-style mother-of-pearl doors, human- and dragon-headed nagas (snakes), statues of Chakri kings and bookcases containing the Tripitaka (sacred Buddhist manuscripts); and the Royal Pantheon, built in Khmer style during the 19th century – it's open to the public in October for 1 day to commemorate the founding of the Chakri dynasty.
To the west of the boht, near the entry gate, stands a black stone statue of a hermit, (considered a patron of medicine), before which relatives of the ill and infirm pay homage and make offerings of joss sticks, candles, fruit and flowers.
To the immediate north of the library is a model of Angkor Wat, the most sacred of all Cambodian shrines.
After leaving the cloisters of Wat Phra Kaew check out the rest of the expansive grounds of the Grand Palace, which were greatly influenced by Italian, French and British architecture.
Location: The palace is located on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River on Na Phra Lan Rd. near Sanam Luang.
Getting there: Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to the pier called Tha Chang, and then walk due east, then south
Admission: 350B. Price includes Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, as well as admission to the Vimanmek Palace (in Dusit Park)
Hours: Daily 8:30am-3:30pm; although most individual buildings are closed to the public except on special days proclaimed by the King.
To get the most out of your visit, arrive early in the morning at 8:30 when the gates first open
Note: A strict dress code is enforced: closed-toed shoes, long pants or skirts, and shirts with sleeves. You can borrow proper attire from the main office.
Latest update: Wat Phra Kaew: 29 May, 2022
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