The Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Sacred jasper Buddha enshrined in a gilded temple inside the Grand Palace, with robes changed by the king each season.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok follows the statue itself: a jasper Buddha found in 1434 when lightning cracked open a stucco tower in Chiang Rai. It traces how an elephant chosen to carry it south refused, twice, and how the statue passed through Chiang Mai, Vientiane, and a Siamese general's raid before reaching this temple in 1784. Along the way you'll meet the king who built the hall to house it. Listen for how the story turns a small stone image into a piece each kingdom fought to keep.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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