Where Or What Is Wat Phra Kaeo?

It's a Buddhist monastery inside the Grand Palace in central Bangkok, Thailand. It has gilded towers, many images of the Buddha and fine architecture which is lovingly maintained. It's also the most sacred place in Thai Buddhism, home to a precious Emerald statue that nations have gone to war over.

Legend has it that the Emerald Buddha was first carved in about 45 BC, and then spirited away by thieves and lost or fought over for centuries. It was later re-discovered after a bolt of lightening struck a pagoda to uncovering an insignificant plaster buddha statue. The plaster cracked off later, to reveal a ~70 cm tall Buddha made of jade (Emerald coloured, though) stone underneath. It has been enshrined at Wat Phra Kaeo since 1784 A.D.

The Emerald Buddha is thought to bring good luck and to have caused divine miracles.

Wat Phra Kaeo and the Grand Palace are open for visitors daily 8.30 - 11.30 am and again 1 - 3.30 pm. It's said that the best times to go are either at 8:30 (before the crowds throng) or right at 3:30 (when the crowds start to thin).

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