Emerald Buddha
At 66 centimetres tall, this is Thailand's sacred palladium — and it is not emerald.
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The Emerald Buddha is the spiritual anchor of the Thai kingdom. Legend says a sage named Nagasena created it in 43 BCE with help from Vishnu and Indra. History says lightning struck a chedi in Chiang Rai in 1434, revealing a stucco-covered Buddha inside; the green stone beneath was only discovered after the abbot removed the stucco. "Emerald" is a Thai reference to its color, not its material — the statue is carved from jasper or jade.
What to look for
- The stone itself: jasper or jade, not emerald — look at the deep green against the gold robes that clothe the figure
- The scale: at 66 centimetres (26 inches) high, the statue is far smaller than its reputation suggests
- The meditative posture: the figure is seated in a classic meditation position, not standing or reclining
Inside Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) on the grounds of the Grand Palace, Bangkok.
Emerald Buddha is one of 38 sights worth the detour in Bangkok, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Bangkok pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Bangkok
- Grand PalaceIn 1782 a king moved his entire capital from Thonburi to Bangkok and built this walled city — Thailand's seat of power for the next 143 years.
- Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)Every Thai king since 1783 has personally added to this temple — and the reigning king still presides over state ceremonies here today.
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)Named for Aruna — the Hindu charioteer who drives the sun at dawn — this riverside spire was built to face the light it honors.
- Baiyoke Tower IIBangkok's tallest hotel stacks an observatory, a bar, and a revolving roof deck across three floors at 309 metres.
- BTS SkytrainBangkok sits in chronic gridlock — three elevated lines run above it on 70 kilometers of track connecting the city end to end.
- Rajamangala National StadiumThailand's largest stadium swells like a concrete wave — narrow at each end, rising steeply until the stands crest exactly at the halfway line.