Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)

The Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot) is the most important Buddha image in Thailand, cast from green jade. It was discovered in Chiang Rai in 1434 inside a collapsed stupa. Over time, it was moved through Lampang, Chiang Mai, and Lopburi, and in 1784 King Rama I brought it to Bangkok, where it is enshrined at Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace. Highly revered, the Emerald Buddha is dressed in seasonal gold robes, which the King changes three times a year, symbolizing both religious devotion and the protection of Thailand.

The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace was constructed together with the founding of Bangkok in 1782 when King Rama 1 ascended to the throne and founded a new dynasty. The Grand Palace is very important as it used to be the palladium of the state. It was used for both the royal residence and the administrative center of the country in the government system of absolute monarchy. Today, the palace is used just for ceremonials. The architectural plan of this palace was almost identical in every detail to the Grand Palace of the former capital of Ayutthaya (about 600 years ago) because the King wanted to recreate the glory of the city as it was in the past. So it was completely first built in traditional Thai style. However, at various periods, the influences from other nations affect to the architecture in Thailand in different reigns such as the Chinese elements introduced by King Rama 3 in the early 19th century and the western building style introduced by King Rama 5 in the late 19th century.