THE GRAND PALACE

Wat phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is a magnificent display of Thai art. The Emerald Buddha Temple is wonderfully designed and has a tremendous sense of tranquility about it. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok and within the grounds of the Grand Palace. Hundreds of visitors and pilgrims queue every day to see the figurine, which the Thai people think will bring wealth to their country. If you're in Thailand, don't miss out on this opportunity to see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in all its glory. 

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The Ubosot containing the Emerald Buddha is the temple's only original structure, having been constructed at the same time as the temple. The ubosot's facade is decorated with tinted mirror tiles and gilded sculpture, and bronze bells line the eaves. The Phra Ubosot is encircled by a multitude of structures, including 12 pavilions and a bell tower that is only rung on auspicious occasions. The Emerald Buddha sits high up on a golden altar inside the chapel, and because of his royal rank, he is ceremoniously clothed in monastic garb. The roof is covered in bright orange and green tiles, the pillars are mosaic-inlaid, and the domes are made up of marble. As this is a very sacred area, you must strictly adhere to the dressing code while visiting.

In Thai, the figurine is known as Phra Kaew Morakot. It depicts the philosopher and spiritual teacher Siddharta Gautama, also known as the Buddha, meditating in the virasana yogic pose while dressed in beautiful gold linen and jewels and precisely carved from a single block of jade. Because it is a symbol of respect, the Buddha picture is raised above the heads of tourists. Furthermore, the figurine is so revered that politicians convicted of corruption swear their innocence in front of it, and the reigning monarch swears the oath of loyalty in front of it. The Emerald Buddha's fable-like origins are one of the reasons why it is supposed to have spiritual power and is regarded as a sacred emblem by the Thai people.

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The Demon Guardians are Buddhist gods who protect and shield the temple from evil spirits. They are known as yaksha or simply yak (giant) in Thai. All gates to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are guarded by six pairs of enormous demon guardians. During the time of King Rama III, these demon guardians were erected, each one depicting a key figure in the Ramakien mythology.

When you enter Wat Phra Kaew's compound, you'll be met by an intimidating bronze sculpture depicting a hermit with extensive knowledge of traditional medicine. The statue is revered as a patron of medicine and is said to possess healing abilities. Every day, relatives of the sick and infirm pay their respects and send incense sticks, fruit, lotus flowers, and candles as offerings. 

The chapel with several Buddha images is housed in a twin building in Thai style behind the Emerald Buddha chapel. Hor Phra Rajkoramanusorn, to the north, houses 34 tiny Buddha images dedicated to 33 Ayudhaya Kings and one Thonburi King. Hor Phra Rajphongsanusorn, the building to the south, houses 8 tiny Buddha images devoted to the King of Bangkok period.

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This Sri Lankan-style golden stupa, built in the 19th century, is believed to store the Buddha's ashes and is revered by people from all over the world. This golden, bell-shaped stupa at Wat Phra Kaew's upper terrace is the Grand Palace complex's tallest structure, visible from the Chao Phraya River.

The Buddhist library, known in Thai as Phra Mondop, is housed in this edifice. It was constructed during the time of King Rama I to keep the Buddhist scripture in a vast exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay book cabinet.

Four little pillars encircle the library, which are ringed by elephant statues. The royal emblems of all the Kings of Bangkok are depicted on the pillars of gilded pavilions. Bronze models of auspicious white elephants can be found at the base of the gilded pavilion. Because of the quantity of white elephants in each reign, their numbers vary.

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The Royal Pantheon, or Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn in Thai, is a Thai-Khmer style pavilion with a prang pinnacle. Initially, the King intended to move the Emerald Buddha from the main chapel to this structure. However, after it was completed, it was discovered that it was too small to hold any ceremony. After several years of repair, the edifice was renamed the Royal Pantheon of All Kings during the reign of King Rama VI, and it became the Royal Pantheon of All Kings during the Bangkok period. Currently, eight sculptures of prior Kings are housed within this structure.

During your visit to The Grand Palace, you will truly be amazed by the planning and the execution of the buildings in the ancient times. You will come across the stone hewn model of the real design that has been used from the actual planning of the Angkor Wat which lies in Cambodia. You can draw insights that the then Siam Kingdom had Cambodia in its territories as an acceding state. 

The eight prang, or structures, that stand to the east of the temple were built during King Rama I's reign. A prang performs the same role as a chedi, which is a sacred monument. They come in a variety of colours and are each dedicated to a distinct Buddhist theme.

Phra Naga is a freestanding Buddha image made of copper alloy that was created by King Rama I, but during King Rama III's reign, the need arose for a relatively huge structure to house the ashes of the current dynasty's deceased members.

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It was established by King Rama III and serves as a chapel for several Buddha images, including the Phra Naga image, which was moved from Hor Phra Naga. The superstructure is designed in the shape of a Thai crown and is embellished with Chinese colour porcelain mosaics. 

The ancillary library, Hor Phra Monthian Dharma, was created by the prince of Front Palace. You can find many mother-of-pearl inlay book cabinets for keeping various Buddhist scriptures inside this edifice.

Hor Phra Gandhararat happens to be a golden and emerald pagoda building in Wat Phra that attracts the majority of the tourists visiting Bangkok. You will find a majestic statue of Lord Buddha in the grand temple. The intricate work of art is a show stopper and you must capture the beautiful architectural designs in your lenses to cherish those moments all through your life.

The Belfry tower in The Grand Palace was added by the King which he seized from another temple. The tower was added to the palace complex by the king during the construction of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. At the present times, the original tower no longer exists, but a green and blue mosaic bell tower known as Ho Rakhang took its place during the reign of King Rama IV. 

Murals illustrating the epic of Ramakien (Ramayana), which is about the protracted struggle between Rama and the demon king Tossakan, may be found on the walls of the gallery that marks the Temple of the Emerald Buddha's perimeter. Even if you are unfamiliar with the story, these paintings will fascinate and astonish you. 

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Every Buddhist Holy Day, a chapter of Ramana Sect monks utilise Hor Sastrakom as a chapel for the ceremony of creating holy water for the King's daily bath and sprinkling over the Phra Maha Montian's courtyard.

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Hor Sastrakom, built by King Rama IV happens to be a replacement for the one that was constructed earlier by King Rama I. This structure was used as a chapel by some of the monks of Ramana Sect every Buddhist Holy Day. They used to sprinkle the holy water used in the everyday ablution of the King on the compound of the Phra Maha Montian.

Dusita Phirom Hall, which was encompassed by a stone curtain wall, was used as a changing chamber for the King to change his attire before walking out to a platform to mount on a chariot or the elephant. 

After leaving the Emerald Buddha Temple, all tourists are treated to a tour of the Grand Palace, which includes significant throne rooms such as Amarin Winitchai, Chakri Maha Prasat, and Dusit Maha Prasat. The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, which depicts a beautiful blend of Thai and Western design and was created by King Rama V, appears to be the Grand Palace's most well-known structure. The annual Conservation Day Ceremony is also held in this venue. 

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