Dhamma Path Blog: January 2026

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Revisited To Wat Phra Kaew In Chiang Rai (BE2567) ~ The Original Home Of The Translucent Green Emerald Buddha - Chiang Rai - Thailand (Part 1).

The Wat Phra Kaew is an important temple in Thai history, as it was here where the Emerald Buddha was discovered in the year 1434 after lightning struck the Chedi where it was kept. The Emerald Buddha or Phra Kaew Morakot is the most highly revered Buddha image in the country, that is now enshrined in the Wat Phra Kaew temple on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Towards the end of the 14th century the image was in North Thailand. The King of Chiang Rai decided to hide the image in the Chedi of the Wat Phra Kaew, that was then known as Wat Pa Yier meaning bamboo forest temple. In part 1/2 for temple photos and part 2/2 for Musuem photos.

Unique temple gate of Wat Phra Kaew Chiang Rai, made from Teak wood, it was built in Lanna style.

The stunning Wiharn of the Wat Phra Kaew is a beautiful Wiharn of Lanna style structure with its facade made of intricately decorated panels. The relatively small Wiharn has a multi tiered roof and very intricate eyebrow pediments. The entrance to the building is guarded by two large Phayanak Naga snakes on either side of the stairs.

Photo taken inside the Wiharn main altar with venerated Phra Jao Lan Thong Buddha image.

The sacred Wiharn contains the Phra Jao Lan Thong Buddha image, a very large bronze and brass image in the subduing Mara mudra that was cast some seven centuries ago.

The Preaching Hall building of Wat Phra Kaew for the delivery of a sermon or religious address to an assembled group of people. The Wat Phra Kaew is an active temple, monks study and live on the temple grounds (back side temple area).

Along the way direct to Chamber of Emerald Buddha statue.

The event Hall building and Phra Buddha statue at front.

Here the stands the golden spiral shaped Chedi where the Emerald Buddha was kept until 1434. In 1434 during a storm the Chedi was hit by lightning and damaging the structure. Some of the stucco came off revealing the Buddha image. As people believed the image was made of emerald (it is actually green jade), they named it the Emerald Buddha, or with its official name the Phra Kaew Morakot. The name of the temple was then changed to its current name Wat Phra Kaew. Not long after the discovery of the Emerald Buddha King Sam Fang Kaen of the Lanna Kingdom ordered the image to be brought to Chiang Mai, the capital of the Kingdom. The image was transported in a shrine placed on the back of an elephant. The elephant however had a mind of its own and brought the image to Lampang, further South. After this had occurred three times, the King decided to leave the image in Lampang, where it was housed in the Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao temple. A white statue of the elephant that carried the image can still be seen today at the Lampang temple.

The sacred Shrine for Phra Buddha statues venerated in front side of the Chedi.

Wat Phra Kaew ~ Hall building and amulet counter inside.

Photo taken inside amulet counter.

Daily devotees come and make merit here by the monk in duty for give blessing to devotees.

A photo taken at the Shrine of King Mengrai in Wat Phra Kaew, honoring the founder of the Lanna Kingdom.

Chamber Haw Phra Yok was built to enshrine sacred Emerald Buddha. The teak wooden chamber, 8 metres in width and 12 metres in length, was built in ancient Chiang Saen style. Its model was created by a renowned artist Thawan Datchanee. At front side also located the pond for fishes and turtles.

Photo taken at Chamber Emerald Buddha, enshrine the Emerald Buddha statue.

Today, the Wat Phra Kaew temple in Chiang Rai holds a replica of the original Phra Kaew Morakot image. This replica that is very close to the original was made in honor of the 90th birthday of HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. This replica also named Phra Kaew Morakot carved from jade was installed in the temple’s Chamber Emerald Buddha in 1991. It is a little smaller than the original, which is about 45 centimeters tall.

The painting is located inside the chamber, surrounded by green decorative wall designs.

Patisanthara Hall with sacred Wooden trunk.

I'm very impressed with Wat Phra Kaew Chiang Rai. It's very well maintained with a very beautiful and peaceful temple grounds with very lovely huge orchids.