| The Wat Phra Kaeo is widely regarded as the | | | | motifs. Being Thailand's most sacred temple |
| most venerated and the most sacred temple in | | | | visitors are expected to behave appropriately and |
| Thailand. It is located within the grounds of the | | | | also to be dressed appropriately. Inside one can |
| Grand Palace inside Bangkok's historic district. The | | | | see the tiny "Emerald Buddha" which stands at a |
| main building of the temple houses the renowned | | | | height of 60 cms, the statue itself is not made of |
| emerald Buddha and when the Thai name of the | | | | emerald but rather of jade or jasper. In the |
| temple is translated into English it literally means | | | | interior of the building are murals depicting jataka |
| "The Temple of the Emerald Buddha." | | | | stories or representations of Buddha's previous |
| The Wat Phra Kaeo is part of the Thai Grand | | | | births. |
| Palace that was built in the year 1782 by King | | | | Some of the murals depict Buddha's victory over |
| Rama I who established Bangkok as the new | | | | "Mara" or the "god of death" and the courtyard |
| capital of Thailand. The temple was meant to | | | | that surrounds the temple depicts the Thai |
| house the "Emerald Buddha" which was returned | | | | version of the great Indian epic the Ramayana. |
| to Thailand after it captured Vientiane in 1778. | | | | Knows as Ramakian in Thai it is colorfully painted |
| According to the traditions of Thai Buddhism the | | | | and utilizes the traditional Thai art form. |
| Emerald Buddha is the most important | | | | Situated in Bangkok, which is Thailand's premier |
| representation of Buddhism and to pray before it | | | | tourist city a Bangkok hotel that offers |
| is considered a meritorious activity. | | | | comfortable accommodation would not be difficult |
| The temple encompasses over 100 colorful | | | | to find for travelers visiting the Wat Phra Kaeo |
| buildings that have golden spires and colorful | | | | and other Thai attractions. |