THAILAND: There are Just a Few Palaces and Temples in Bangkok

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is home to over 10.5 million people in the metropolitan region.

There are Buddha images or shrines of all sizes throughout the city, and, the country.

While we were in Bangkok we visited a couple of the must-see highlights; the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Wat Pho (the temple with the Reclining Budha).

The temples are much more than tourist attractions. Buddhism is an inextricable part of daily life in Thailand. 

The Grand Palace was built in 1782 and for 150 years was the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government. It is not one building, but literally dozens along with shrines, stupas, and other symbols of royal authority. 

The ornately decorated Grand Palace had been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782, but Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the 20th century. The palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of ceremonial occasions.

Within the Palace walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom.

There is one building that stands out as different. The Palace building was designed by a British architect, John Clunich, and is a combination of the European neo-classical style building with a Thai styled roof. 

Located in one corner of the outer court of the Grand Palace complex is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Finished in 1784, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

It is also the most visited temple in Thailand because it is home to the most religiously significant statue, the Emerald Buddha, considered to be the protector of all of Thailand. According to legend, the statue was unearthed in Lanna Kingdom (now Northern Thailand) in the 15th century and was moved from temple to temple with each new ruler. 

The figurine has long been revered for its spiritual power. The 66-cm (26 in) effigy sits cross-legged atop a 9-metre (29 ft) pedestal so that it’s always elevated above visitors’ heads. 

Despite its name, the Emerald Buddha is not made of emerald. It is carved out of a single block of jasper. “Emerald” refers to the Buddha’s vivid green colour.

Only the King of Thailand may touch the sacred object. He does so three times a year to change the gold garments for each of Thailand’s three seasons: hot, cool, and rainy. Photos can not be taken, so this is a stock photo of the Emerald Buddha in the summer season garment. 

The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho, is sometimes referred to as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha because of the 46m (151ft)-long, 15m (49ft)-high Buddha that sits at this temple’s core. The Reclining Buddha is covered in gold leaf. 

His feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl. 

TBH - the photos do not do The Grand Palace justice. The Grand Palace is so big, crowded and full of sensory overload that in some ways it is hard to take it all in with just one visit. Perhaps a second one will be required.