Thailand Travel Pages – Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Chiang Rai Province

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Wat Phra Kaew - Temple of the Emerald Buddha:

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The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Chiang Rai was so named because it was once home to Thailand's most revered and perhaps most mysterious Buddha statue. Originally called Wat Pa Yia (Temple of the Yellow Bamboo Forest), the temple has been an important place for worship for hundreds of years. No one really knows its true history, but what is known is in 1444, during a fierce thunderstorm, the temple's chedi (stupor) was struck by lightning. The following day, when the monks went to inspect the damage to the chedi they were surprised to discover the Emerald Buddha hidden inside. It was after this significant event that the name of the temple was changed to Wat Phra Kaew.

Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha chedi

The Emerald Buddha itself is seen as a very important and sacred image and over the years various rulers moved it to their respective capitals. The Buddha has therefore seen many homes including Lampang, Chiang Mai and Vientiane in Laos, but today it resides in Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok.

Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha Monks

Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha Flower

In 1991 a replica of the original was commissioned for Wat Phra Kaew to honor the Princess Mother's 90th birthday. A large piece of Canadian jadeite was used to create the replica and following Buddhist protocol, the new Buddha was made slightly smaller than the original, so it is not an exact copy. The new Buddha statue is housed in the temple's ubosot (ordination hall).

Because of its history and significance to the Thai people, Wat Phra Kaew is probably the most important and most revered Buddhist temple in Thailand. In May 1978 it was awarded the distinction of being the first Royal temple of Chiang Rai.

Getting there
Wat Phra Kaew is located in the North of Chiang Rai city, not far from Overbrook Hospital on Trairat Road.