Name: Temple of Emerald Buddha

Location: Bangkok, Central Thailand

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, known to Thai people as Wat Phra Kaew, is situated within the Grand Palace compound. It is in the outer section of the Royal Enclosure. It was built on the orders of King Rama I along with the main Grand Palace and Rattanakosin Island. Though it is called a temple, it has no resident monks. The main purpose of Wat Phra Kaew is to house the Emerald Buddha, the most revered symbol of Thai Buddhism. Its origin and sculptor are unknown; legends and myths surround the mysterious icon. It was originally discovered in Chiang Mai in 1464 under strange circumstances. It was taken into Laos, but Taksin the Great brought it back from Vientiane. Ever since, it has been a Thai national symbol, in addition to its religious relevance. The statue has three robes – one for each season. The robes are housed in the Royal Thai Decorations and Coin Pavilion of the Grand Palace. Changing the robes at the beginning of each season has been royal privilege in the past, as it is today.