Grand Palace & Wat (Temple) Phra Kaeo in Bangkok
Construction began in 1782 to mark the founding of the new capital
& provide
a resting place for the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaeo)
and a residence for the king. Royal Family now lives in Dusit, but the Temple
is still Thailand's holiest.
At Wat Phra Kaeo
The yakshas, demons, are said to protect the
Emerald Buddha from evil spirits. Each one
represents a different character from the Ramakien.
Mural depicting a scene from the Ramakien in the Ramakien Gallery that surrounds
the temple complex.
The Ramakien is the Thai version of the Indian Ramayama, an allegory of the
triumph of good over evil.
The hero Rama is the ideal king. The villain is the demon king Tosakan. Tosakan
abducts Rama's wife Sita,
& the monkey God Hanaman volunteers to help find her.
Another guardian
Inside Temple of the Emerald Buddha (taken outside & from a distance as photos
inside are disallowed).
Carved of green jade.
First discovered
in 1434 in Chiang Rai. Then it was covered with plaster.
Later, the plaster on the nose flaked off, revealing the green stone underneath.
The abbot thought it was emerald initially.
The walls inside this ordination hall are decorated
with murals of the Buddha's
life.
Reception hall of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on grounds of Grand Palace &
Wat Phra Kaeo complex
Another Ramakien gallery drawing
Art students perform traditional dance for us on the boat where we had our
final dinner on a night time river
cruise
on the Chao Phraya
River in Bangkok. The following morning we flew back to the States.
Wat Arun Temple (Temple of Dawn) at night
from the Chayo Phraya River
THE END - THAILAND PHOTOS
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