What is Wat Phra Kaew ? (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Wat Phra Kaew is a famous temple in Bangkok, Thailand, officially named Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. Located on the grounds of The Grand Palace of Thailand, it is worth a visit for its opulence and splendor.
Wat Phra Kaew is also known as the “Emerald Temple. This name derives from the Emerald Buddha (or more precisely, the Buddha image made from jade) housed in the temple. The Emerald Buddha is considered very sacred and is visited by many people, especially during the Thai New Year.
Architecturally, Wat Phra Kaew embodies the splendid Thai style, featuring intricate carvings, rich gold leaf, and colorful tiles.
Wat Phra Kaew History
The history of Wat Phra Kaew dates back to the beginning of the current Thai dynasty, the Chakri Dynasty. The temple was built by the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I, as a temple of protection. The Chakri Dynasty began in 1782, which means that Wat Phra Kaew has a history of about 250 years.
How to get to the Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is located in the Old City area of Bangkok. As mentioned above, it is located on the grounds of the Royal Palace, and is also in close proximity to Wat Pho and Wat Arun, which, along with Wat Phra Kaeo, are considered the three major temples in Bangkok.
The three main ways to get to Wat Phra Kaew are as follows.
- Grab
- Subway and Walk
- Ferry and Walk
More details are presented below.
Grab
First, I will introduce the most recommended way to get there, the transportation network app Grab. I actually used Grab to get to Wat Phra Kaew from the city. The price varies depending on the time of day, but it was 104 baht (about 2.81 USD) from a location within 3 km of Wat Phra Kaew.
If you use the subway or boat, you will inevitably have to walk halfway. Bangkok is a place where the temperature can reach up to 40 degrees depending on the season. I visited in April, and the highest temperature at that time was 37 degrees.
Then, you don’t want to walk as much as possible. Therefore, we recommend Grab, which will take you closest to Wat Phra Kaew.
Subway
Next up is the subway. The nearest station to Wat Phra Kaew is Sanam Chai station mentioned above.
However, the nearest entrance to Wat Phra Kaew is about 1 km away on foot. As mentioned above, it can be difficult to walk 1km when the temperature is high. With that in mind, I can’t really recommend it.
By the way, it costs 53 baht (approximately 1.4 USD) to get to Sanam Chai station from Phaya Thai station on the Airport Rail Link train that runs from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Bangkok city.
Compared to Grab fares, it’s only about half the difference. Therefore, if you are traveling with 2 or more people, Grab may be a better deal! All things considered, I still think Grab is better.
Ferry
The Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok, has Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun on both banks, and ferries frequently come and go.
I actually used it to go from Wat Phra Kaew side to Wat Arun side, and the ferry fare was 5 baht (about 0.12 USD) per person.
If you try to drive to Wat Phra Kaew from Wat Arun side, you will have to detour around the river. If that happens, the cost will be higher, so if you are going from the Wat Arun side, we recommend going by ferry.
Wat Phra Kaew entrance fee
The admission fee for Wat Phra Kaew is 500 baht (about 13.41 USD) per person.
| Temples | Fee |
|---|---|
| Wat Phra Kaew | 500 baht (approx. 13.41 USD) |
| Wha Pho | 300 baht (approx. 7.66 USD) |
| Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun) | 200 baht (approx. 5.43 USD) |
Honestly, this is quite expensive compared to other nearby temples. However, as mentioned above, Wat Phra Kaew is adjacent to the The Grand Palace, so you can visit there as well.
Although the entrance fee is high, if it is a set price with the Royal Palace, the 500 baht price is probably worth it.
Time required to shightseeig Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. Moreover, you can also visit The Grand Palace, so you should reserve some time for sightseeing.
It took me 40 minutes to visit the shrine in a hurry. One hour is enough for general sightseeing, and one hour and 30 minutes is enough for a detailed look at the temple.
Highlights of Wat Phra Kaew
If I were to summarize the highlights of Wat Phra Kaew in a nutshell, they would be the following three points.
- The most gorgeous and luxurious in Thailand
- Emerald Buddha
- The Grand Palace
Luxuriousness
As mentioned above, Wat Phra Kaew is a temple with as much tradition and history as the origin of the current dynasty. Therefore, I felt that it was a gorgeous and gorgeous building that showed the prestige of Thailand.
I have actually visited the other three major temples in Bangkok, but Wat Phra Kaew stands out in terms of luxury.
Thailand is Theravada Buddhism. Its formations are worth seeing! And since it is one of the most spectacular places in Thailand, sightseeing is a must.
Emerald Buddha
The Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew is the Buddha in the upper left of the above photo.
In fact, the room where the Emerald Buddha is located is a prohibited area for photography. Therefore, the photo was taken from outside the compound, which made it difficult to see.
The inside of the site was filled with monks chanting and devotees praying, and the atmosphere was very heated (perhaps it was because my visit was just before the Chinese New Year). The atmosphere was much more impressive than the Emerald Buddha.
A special place where you can experience the religious spirit of the local people. It was a great experience to be able to visit there.
The Grand Palace
When sightseeing at Wat Phra Kaew, you can also see the exterior of the adjacent The Grand Palace. The exterior, which is a combination of Thai architectural style and Western style, felt fresh and different from the shape of Wat Phra Kaew.
It seems that no members of the royal family live in this royal palace, but the area is apparently used for important events, so please treat the area with the same respect as you would a temple.
Wat Phra Kaew Sightseeing Summary
As I have mentioned, Wat Phra Kaew is a very worthwhile place to visit. Although the entrance fee may seem high compared to other tourist attractions in Bangkok, it would be a waste not to visit.
If you are ever in Bangkok, please visit Wat Phra Kaew!
While there are relatively shaded areas inside the temples, The Grand Palace area is for exterior sightseeing only, so there is no shade. It is advisable to take precautions against heat stroke.
▼Related Articles
Wat Phra Kaew is one of the three major temples in Bangkok, Thailand. It is definitely a place you cannot miss when sightseeing in Bangkok. I will tell you more details below, so if you are planning to go to Bangkok, please refer to them.