This duo has been around since the city was established and therefore is very popular amongst tourist keen on exploring the history and the culture of Bangkok. Dating as far back as 1782, the compound where the temple is located features golden spires, a hundred odd colourful buildings, intricate designs, and splendid mosaics.
The Wat Phra Kaew is Thailand’s most sacred place of worship and it is where the Emerald Buddha is kept. The Emerald Buddha is a small statue of Lord Buddha, which is made of green jade and is only about 75 centimetres in height. This statue is regarded as a talisman for Thailand and its people and is therefore very important for the Thais. The interior of the room which houses the Emerald Buddha is decorated with murals which depict the stories portraying the different previous lives of Lord Buddha. And of the most interesting is the one overlooking the altar which portrays Lord Buddha’s victory over the ‘Mara’, the evil demon.
History lovers will also be fascinated by the open colonnade which runs around the temple premises and which is decorated with murals portraying the ‘Ramakian’ – the Thai adaptation of the Ramayana, the epic famous in Indian, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There are over 170 sections in these murals and though originally they were painted during King Mongkut’s reign (1825 – 1859), it has been restored several times since.
Other attractions in the complex includes, a model of Angkor Wat of Cambodia built during the time Thai territory included Cambodia, the golden Phra Si Rattana Chedi housing the ashes of Lord Buddha, two libraries housing important Buddhist literature and documents and the Royal Pantheon housing life size statues of Thailand’s first seven kings.
Visitors to the city keen on exploring its various attractions will find a range of accommodation options to choose from and any hotel or apartment Bangkok has on offer assures a pleasant stay for all. For those seeking serviced accommodation in Bangkok an option such as the Somerset Lake Point, Bangkok is perfect as it boasts a convenient location and luxurious accommodation, making for a memorable stay.