Wat Phra Kaew. This compound is also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and was the residence of the King. Now days some of the buildings are used for certain ceremonial occasions.
It has a fairytale feeling, like Alice in Wonderland. The buildings are all close together and have high columns. Many are covered with mosaic pieces, many are glass which makes it shimmer in the sun. Quite a sensory overload.
The Emerald Buddha temple is protected by 2 huge mythical giant figures.
According to reliable chronicles, lightning struck a Chedi in Chiangrai province of Northern Thailand in 1434 A.D.and a Buddha statue made of stucco was found inside. The abbot of the temple noticed that the stucco on the nose had flaked off and the image inside was a green color. He then removed the stucco covering and found the Emerald Buddha which is in reality made of green jade.
When King Rama I was still a general during the Thonburi period in 1778 he captured the town of Vientiane and brought the Emerald Buddha back to Thailand. With the establishment of Bangkok as the capital, beginning the Rattanakosin period and the Chakri Dynasty, the Emerald Buddha became the palladium of Thailand and has been here ever since. On the 22nd of March 1784 the image was moved from Thonburi to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Three times a year his clothing is changed to something appropriate to the climate. We saw him in his winter robe. No photos are allowed so I found this photo on the net. It shows his 3 outfits.
Showing the detail on these smaller figures.
Between all the colour and detail of the buildings was this calm green lawn with trimmed shrubs. We have seen many trimmed bushes, mostly into animal shapes.
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