Panorama views of The Grand Palace, Thailand

The Chapel Royal of The Emerald Buddha ( Wat Phra Keo ) is situated on the north of the royal residence of the Mahamontien. The Assembly Hall serves as the monarch's private chapel.

The "Emerald Buddha" was discovered in 1464. It was carved from one piece of emerald green jade. The Buddha figure sits high up on an altar of gold designed to represent the traditional aerial chariot attributed to Hindu gods on the murals of this country. Two seasonal costumes were made for the Emerald Buddha by King Rama I,one for the summer season and one for the rainy season. King Rama III had another costume made for winter season. The ceremonial changing of costumes takes place three times a year and is done by his Majesty the King.

It is an object of national veneration and crowds come to pay respect to the memory of the Buddha and His Teachings on certain days of the weeks when it is open to the public.

Scientific Specification
A single solid gem stone, in Monoclinic System, Pyroxene Group,
Height 66.00 cm, Width 48.03 cm, Circumference 57.00 cm
Specific Gravity 3.33-3.35, Hardness 6.5-6.7 ( Diamond=10)

D. The Chapel of Emerald Buddha Next

Total View of The Grand Palace Complex
Plan of The Grand palace

360 degrees (clockwise) Panorama Views from 13 view points in the palace region:
A. The Grand Palace (Top View).
B. Phra Asada Maha Chedi (Top View)
C. The Upper Terrace (Top View)
D. Chapel of Emerald Buddha (Interior View)
E. Chapel of Emerald Buddha. (Top View)
F. Borom Phiman Mansion (Top View)
G. Amarin Winitchai Hall (Interior View)
H. Chakri Hall (Top View)
I. Dusit Hall (Top View)
J. Wat Phra Keo Museum (Interior View)
K. Chakri Hall (Front View)
L. Chakri Central Audience Hall (Top View)
M. Dusit Hall (Interior View)

A popular birth story in Thailand would told you that The Emerald Buddha was retrieved and sculpted by gods in honor of Buddha. The Emerald Buddha was believed to bring legitimacy and prosperity to all those who possess it. Thus kings throughout the region have desired to have the Emerald Buddha preside over and bring good favor to their capitals.

The effigy was first discovered in Chiang Rai in 1464, brought down to Lampang where it remained till King Tilok of Lannathai brought it to Chiang Mai, his capital, where it was fitly enshrined.

The King of Chiangmai in the mid 16^th century had no sons. His daughter was married to King of Laos and had a son named Chaichettha. After the King died in 1551, the prince, at the age of fifteen, was invited to become the King of Chiangmai. However, when his father, the King of Laos, died, King Chaichettha wanted to return to his own country.

In 1552 he returned to Luang Prabang, then the capital of Laos, and took the Emerald Buddha with him. He promised the ministers he would return to Chianmai but he never did nor did he send back the Emerald Buddha. In 1564 King Chaichettha was chased out of Luang Prabang by Burmese army of King Bayinnaung and took the Emerald Buddha with him to his new capital of Vientiane. The Emerald Buddha remained there for 214 years.

In 1778, The King of Thonburi sent a punitive expedition to Vientiane At that time, King Rama I was still a general during the Thonburi period, he captured the town Vientiane and brought the Emerald Buddha back to Thailand, of which the King of Thonburi was very proud.

When King Rama I built the city of Bangkok with the Chapel Royal and the Grand Palace, On the 22^nd March 1784, the Emerald Buddha was moved from Thonburi to The Chapel of the Emerald Buddha, installed with pomp and ceremony in the chapel.

The chapel of the Emerald Buddh contains more exquisite carving and decoration per square centimeter than any comparable site in the world. Within the temple compound, almost every surface is covered with inspired decoration, Incorporating so many colors and materials, the complex is a unified mixture of milt tiered ocher, blue, orange, and green tiled roofs, towering fanged dragons staring at a golden Ayutthaya-style chedi, marble prangs, priceless mother-of pearl inlaid doors, bronze lions, gilt Garudas, Chinese statuary, and tiny tinkling bronze wind bells suspended from scarlet and gold lacquered eaves and is, above all, the Thai ideal of a skillfully-arranged complex imparting reverence and serenity.

(A) above the window frames - the traditional life-story of the Buddha; commencing with the south west corner on the right of the high altar where is depicted his birth, childhood, youth and renunciation in search of Truth; On the east wall fronting the high altar the temptation and enlightenment,the figure underneath the Buddha's seat being that of Mother Earth; continuing thence along the north wall the mission and death with its immediate consequence till we reach the north-west corner of the wall. At the back is painted the middle-aged conception of the universe.

(D) The panels of the doors contain exquisite inlaid work in mother-of-pearl. They all depict episodes from the Ramakien. (The Thai version of the Ramayana)