Wat Phra Kaew – Thailand’s Home of the Emerald Buddha

Wat Phra Kaew is the most revered temple in Thailand, hands down. Strategically situated near the Chao Phraya River on Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Road in Bangkok, this is the home of the Emerald Buddha.

If you want a history lesson on the temple and the Emerald Buddha, you can learn all about it at the Temple with an audio tour or a guided tour. Because there is already a lot of information on Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, I will give you a low-down of my perspective only.

This temple is super touristy, with bus loads of foreigners making their right of pass visit. The crowds confirm that it is a sought out and beloved place. Some of you may be the type of people who want to skip the overblown touristy spots, but you should consider going.

It is easy and cheap to get there by taking the river taxi to Tha Chang Pier. It’s also fun to take a tuk-tuk to get there, as you pass by the old yellow buildings, extravagantly decorated halls, and various national monuments.

Once you arrive to the temple complex, there will be a flurry of activity, mostly vendors selling water and trinkets to people passing by. There are signs that warn of pickpockets, which is a precaution you should take anywhere you go in the world. There are also some exposed tuk-tuk scams, where drivers will claim the temple is closed (when it’s not) and they will recommend to take you and your friends on a tour where they pressure you to buy heavily commissioned overpriced jewelry and suits. If that’s the adventure you’re looking for then go ahead.

But for those continuing on to the temple, be mindful of the clothes you wear. In general, your pants should cover your knees and your shoulders should be covered. This is more strictly enforced for women, and at the big temples they normally have sarong rental or purchase services.

The temple is beautiful, the campus is expansive, and the attention to detail is remarkable. Surprisingly, the Emerald Buddha that is deeply loved by Thai people is actually smaller than I imagined. But the historical and sentimental meaning carries its value (once again – audio tour). To see all of this, you will get your first taste of dual-pricing in Thailand. It will cost you or any foreigner 500 baht to enter. This is about $15 per person, which is reasonable. However, it is free for Thai citizens, which lead some to think that 500 baht isn’t as reasonable as previously thought. The good thing is that your entry ticket includes a voucher for other activities so it doubles as a free ticket for a cultural show or for a museum (or water) depending on the day.

I have been once and was blown away. Blown away by the number of people, by the heat, by the temple’s beauty, and by the Thai people’s dedication to their country. The time I went was in the year following the late King’s death, while the country was in mourning. I saw thousands of Thais clad in all black attire, standing under the hot sun for hours just to pay their respects. It was a great cultural experience. With that said, I have not been back, and do not have plans to go back anytime soon. It’s not a place where I necessarily have the desire to keep on returning. Once was good enough and I have a fond memory of it.