the temple of the emeral buddha
Open hours 08 .30 am.-11.30 am. and 13.00 pm.-15.30 pm.
Fees Admission costs 200 baht (if you are Thai, it's free) which includes entry to the Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion within the Grand Palace, and Vimanmek Palace and the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall in nearby Dusit district.
Hilight
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located in a separate complex within the compound of the Grand Palace, is Thailand's holiest shrine. Officially named Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram, the temple complex was modeled along the same lines as grand chapels from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras. No monks reside within the temple.
The Emerald Buddha sits atop a huge gold altar in the center of the temple. It is a rather small, dark statue, just over 2 feet tall, made of green jasper or perhaps jadeite ("emerald" refers to the intense green color, not the specific stone).Like many other Buddha statues in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha is covered in a seasonal costume, which is changed three times a year to correspond to the summer (crown and jewelry), winter (golden shawl), and rainy months (gilt robe and headdress).
The costume change is an important ritual and is performed by the Thai king, who also sprinkles water over the monks and the faithful to bring good fortune during the upcoming season. The two sets of 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.
Construction of this site started in 1782, the year of the founding of Bangkok, as a shrine for the Emerald Buddha, a 66-cm tall jadeite statue and Thailand's most sacred Buddha image.
The Emerald Buddha is housed in a magnificent bot (the central shrine in a Buddhist temple), which is used by monks for important religious rituals. The interior walls are decorated with late Ayutthaya-style murals depicting the life of the Buddha, steps to enlightenment, and the Buddhist cosmology of the Worlds of Desire, Being, and Illusion.
The surrounding portico of the shrine is an example of masterful Thai craftsmanship. On the perimeter are 12 open pavilions, built during the reign of Rama I. The inside walls of the compound are decorated with murals depicting the entire Ramakien, the Thai national epic, painted during the reign of Rama I and last restored in 1982, in 178 scenes beginning at the north gate and continuing clockwise.
There are several other monuments on the temple grounds, among the most interesting of which are the three pagodas to the immediate north of the ubosoth (main building), representing the changing centers of Buddhist influence. Phra Si Ratana Chedi, to the west, is a 19th-century Sri Lankan-style stupa housing ashes of the Buddha.
Phra Mondop, in the middle, is a library built in Thai style by Rama I, known for its excellently crafted Ayutthaya-style mother-of-pearl doors, bookcases containing the Tripitaka (sacred Buddhist manuscripts), human-and dragon-headed nagas (snakes), and statues of Chakri kings. The magnificent Phra Mondop is used as a library to house Buddhist scriptures. Built by King Rama I, this building is closed to the public.
The Royal Pantheon, to the east, was built in Khmer style during the 19th century. It's open to the public for one day in October to commemorate the founding of the Chakri dynasty.
Scattered around the complex are statues of elephants, which symbolize independence and power. Thai kings went to battle atop elephants, and it is customary for parents to walk their children around an elephant three times to bring them strength. You can rub the head of an elephant statue for good luck – note how smooth it is from being touched by millions.
Location
Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Bangkok 10200
How to go
Ordinary buses 44, 47 and 91 stop on Thaiwang road between Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew. Ordinary buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 82 and 91 also stop on Maharat road, on the west of Wat Phra Kaew. On nearby Sanam Luang, north of Wat Phra Kaew, ordinary buses 3, 15, 30, 32, 43, 44, 59, 64, 70, 80, 123 and 201 all stop, as well as aircon 6, 7, 12, 39 and 44. The Tha Chang river express boat stop is also very near. If you're staying in Banglamphu, it's possible to walk there via Sanam Luang. It's only about a 1 km walk, but involves crossing some large and busy roads which don't have any obvious crossing places.
Getting to this temple is quite easy by boat. Take the Chaophraya Express Boat to the Chang Pier (ThaChang). Walk through the market around the pier and out onto the plaza flanked by old shop-houses. The long white wall of the Grand Palace is across the street on your right. You can't really miss it. The entrance is the second gate in the wall.
For More Information
Tel. 0 2224 3273 or 0 2623 5500
www.palaces.thai.net
Fees Admission costs 200 baht (if you are Thai, it's free) which includes entry to the Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion within the Grand Palace, and Vimanmek Palace and the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall in nearby Dusit district.
Hilight
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located in a separate complex within the compound of the Grand Palace, is Thailand's holiest shrine. Officially named Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram, the temple complex was modeled along the same lines as grand chapels from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras. No monks reside within the temple.
The Emerald Buddha sits atop a huge gold altar in the center of the temple. It is a rather small, dark statue, just over 2 feet tall, made of green jasper or perhaps jadeite ("emerald" refers to the intense green color, not the specific stone).Like many other Buddha statues in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha is covered in a seasonal costume, which is changed three times a year to correspond to the summer (crown and jewelry), winter (golden shawl), and rainy months (gilt robe and headdress).
The costume change is an important ritual and is performed by the Thai king, who also sprinkles water over the monks and the faithful to bring good fortune during the upcoming season. The two sets of 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.
Construction of this site started in 1782, the year of the founding of Bangkok, as a shrine for the Emerald Buddha, a 66-cm tall jadeite statue and Thailand's most sacred Buddha image.
The Emerald Buddha is housed in a magnificent bot (the central shrine in a Buddhist temple), which is used by monks for important religious rituals. The interior walls are decorated with late Ayutthaya-style murals depicting the life of the Buddha, steps to enlightenment, and the Buddhist cosmology of the Worlds of Desire, Being, and Illusion.
The surrounding portico of the shrine is an example of masterful Thai craftsmanship. On the perimeter are 12 open pavilions, built during the reign of Rama I. The inside walls of the compound are decorated with murals depicting the entire Ramakien, the Thai national epic, painted during the reign of Rama I and last restored in 1982, in 178 scenes beginning at the north gate and continuing clockwise.
There are several other monuments on the temple grounds, among the most interesting of which are the three pagodas to the immediate north of the ubosoth (main building), representing the changing centers of Buddhist influence. Phra Si Ratana Chedi, to the west, is a 19th-century Sri Lankan-style stupa housing ashes of the Buddha.
Phra Mondop, in the middle, is a library built in Thai style by Rama I, known for its excellently crafted Ayutthaya-style mother-of-pearl doors, bookcases containing the Tripitaka (sacred Buddhist manuscripts), human-and dragon-headed nagas (snakes), and statues of Chakri kings. The magnificent Phra Mondop is used as a library to house Buddhist scriptures. Built by King Rama I, this building is closed to the public.
The Royal Pantheon, to the east, was built in Khmer style during the 19th century. It's open to the public for one day in October to commemorate the founding of the Chakri dynasty.
Scattered around the complex are statues of elephants, which symbolize independence and power. Thai kings went to battle atop elephants, and it is customary for parents to walk their children around an elephant three times to bring them strength. You can rub the head of an elephant statue for good luck – note how smooth it is from being touched by millions.
Location
Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Bangkok 10200
How to go
Ordinary buses 44, 47 and 91 stop on Thaiwang road between Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew. Ordinary buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 82 and 91 also stop on Maharat road, on the west of Wat Phra Kaew. On nearby Sanam Luang, north of Wat Phra Kaew, ordinary buses 3, 15, 30, 32, 43, 44, 59, 64, 70, 80, 123 and 201 all stop, as well as aircon 6, 7, 12, 39 and 44. The Tha Chang river express boat stop is also very near. If you're staying in Banglamphu, it's possible to walk there via Sanam Luang. It's only about a 1 km walk, but involves crossing some large and busy roads which don't have any obvious crossing places.
Getting to this temple is quite easy by boat. Take the Chaophraya Express Boat to the Chang Pier (ThaChang). Walk through the market around the pier and out onto the plaza flanked by old shop-houses. The long white wall of the Grand Palace is across the street on your right. You can't really miss it. The entrance is the second gate in the wall.
For More Information
Tel. 0 2224 3273 or 0 2623 5500
www.palaces.thai.net