Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)
- Address: Grand Palace, Banglamphu (Old City), Bangkok, Thailand
- Hours: Open daily from 8:30am - 3:30pm
- Admission: ฿250. Price includes Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, the Coin Pavilion & Vimanmek Palace in Dusit Park
- Transit: Chao Phraya Express Boat to Pier Tha Chang
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Nature & Wildlife,
Religious Experience,
Tip - What to See & Do,
Monument - Historical,
Temple
Deep within the Grand Palace grounds you’ll find Thailand’s most sacred sight - the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot) contained within the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). This temple is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country and is an essential palladium of Thai society.
Within its walls is the highly revered Buddha sculpture, carved from a single block of jade and dates from the 14th century AD. Believed to have been crafted in Sri Lanka, the Emerald Buddha was transported and revered throughout Southeast Asia before being brought back to Thailand from Laos in 1552. It has sat in its present shrine within the Grand Palace walls since 1784 and remains an important symbol of the Thai nation.
So revered is this Buddha image that no one but the King himself is allowed to touch it. Three times a year, to correspond with the changing of the Thai seasons, the King changes the Buddha's robes in an important ritual to ensure good fortune in the months ahead.
The Emerald Buddha is just over 2 ft (0.6 m) tall and sits in a magnificent shrine within the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The temple itself contains some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture, architecture and decorative craft in Thailand.
Visitors must not point their feet towards the Buddha and if you cannot comfortably sit on the floor without doing so you must remain standing. Those who fail to recognize this important observance face being ejected from the temple.
Latest Reviews
Review by Linda B, USA, May 2013
Doing what: Bangkok Canals Cruise including Grand Palace and Wat Arun
Our guide was very knowledgeable. We highly recommend this canal tour. Riding in the long tail boat was a highlight of our trip to Bangkok.
Review by Janet J, April 2013
Doing what: Bangkok's Grand Palace Complex and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
Great trip and service. As with our other trip booked through viatour we received a letter the day before letting us know what time we would be picked up, we had an air conditioned mini bus with our party of 5 and 1 other traveller. Our guide was good (if a little barmy!!) she gave us lots of information not only the palace but Bangkok itself, she also tried to get us round to the best bits before the crowds got there. The palace itself is amazing and well worth visiting. The only downside for us was on the way back we were then told we would be going to a jewellery centre, which we were unaware of and not interested in, we then had to walk through this before the centre got a different minibus to take us back to our hotel. Other than that its a fantastic trip.
Review by MR S L, April 2013
Doing what: Bangkok's Grand Palace Complex and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
highly recommended to visit grand place because of incredible hand made. It's really good to see when you go there and also excellent guider who will translate all history in English.
Practical Info
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is in the Grand Palace complex in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok – also known as the Old City.
All visitors must adhere to a strict dress code upon entering the Grand Palace complex. Skin, including arms, lower legs and toes, should not be exposed and inappropriately dressed visitors will be ushered into a building near the front gate to rent suitable clothing.
As with most temples, shoes must be shed and pilgrims offering prayers should avoid proffering the soles of their feet in the direction of holy imagery while sitting.
