Grand Palace & Wat Prakeaw
Wat Phra Kaew is also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and is within the precincts of the Grand Palace, the former residence of the Thai monarch. Wat Phra Kaew is now considered as Bangkok’s biggest tourist attraction, because it serves as a place for devout Budhists and nationalists as well as pilgrims.
There are more than 100 buildings in the 94.5-hectare area that was consecrated in 1782, representing the Thai monarch’s royal history and experimentation in architectural designs. The temple has the Rattanakosin style (the old Bangkok style), modeling it after the image of ancient capital Ayudhya’s temple. The Emerald Buddha is the Wat Phra Kaew’s primary attraction and Thailand’s palladium or the religious and political symbol of the Thai society. It is a figurine of the meditating Buddha that is made of jade and clothed in gold. About 26 inches tall, it is seated in a yogic position. The Emerald Buddha also has different sets of seasonal costumes made of gold: two costumes made by Rama I for summer and rainy seasons and one costume made by Rama III for the winter season. The Grand Palace is off-limits for tourists. The king only uses the Grand Palace for Coronation Day and other ceremonial or formal occasions. Only the Thai king is also allowed to touch the Emerald Buddha. TIPS
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Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
500 Baht
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 3.30pm
National Stadium BTS (16 minutes drive)
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