Wat Phra Kaeo (also known as Wat Phra Kaew), the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the most sacred religious site in all of Thailand, and thanks to its connection with the Royal Palace, its symbol extends to the political level.

The temple's tourist but above all religious magnet is a small Buddha statue made of precious green jasper, shrouded in many legends and mysteries.

The Wandering Emerald Buddha

The most revered Buddhist pilgrimage artefact is a small Buddha statue made of the emerald-coloured mineral jasper. The history of this 79 cm tall statue is unknown, but legend has it that it was made somewhere in northern India at the turn of the century.

Over the centuries, it gradually wandered through Asian countries, having been appropriated and stolen again and again by different peoples.

The first verifiable written record dates from 1434, when the statue was moved from Cambodia to Chiang Mai, Thailand, by King Tilok. The statue was subsequently stolen and taken to Laos, only to return to Thailand several decades later.

Wat Phra Kaeo

The statue was commissioned by King Rama I in 1784 for the newly established capital of Bangkok and the newly built Wat Phra Kaew temple.

The Emerald Buddha is on display in the main temple building, where access is free to all. It is necessary to take off your shoes before entering and appropriate clothing, i.e. long trousers and draped shoulders, is strictly controlled. No photography is allowed inside the temple, but you can take a picture of the Smragdha Buddha from the outside.

Photos of the Emerald Buddha from the outside

Model of Angkor Wat and the murals

Wat Phra Kaeo temple is not just about the Emerald Buddha statue, however. Even at first glance, the tall golden pagoda catches the eye.

The most admired part of the complex, however, are the extensive murals of scenes from the Buddha's life as well as the large model of the famous Cambodian temple Angkor Wat.

Wat Phra Kaeo

Entrance fees and opening hours

Open daily from 8:30am-3:30pm.

Ticket price is 500 thb and can be paid by credit card. Admission includes a visit to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Royal Palace grounds and the Queen Sirikit Textile Museum.

Official website: royalgrandpalace.th/en

Transportation to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The main entrance can be found on Na Phra Lan Road.

Metro - Sanam Chai station on the blue line about 1,300 meters from the entrance
Boat - Tha Chang wharf (approx. 250 metres from the entrance): orange and yellow-green Chao Phraya Express Boat line, Chao Phraya Tourist Boat line and green MINE Smart Ferry line
Bus - stop approximately 100 metres from the entrance: lines 3 (Khaosan, ICONSIAM shopping centre, Mochit bus station), 25 (Hua Lamphong station, Siam district and Sukhumvit), 53 (Khaosan, Hua Lamphong station, Dusit), 124 (Southern Bus Terminal)