Bangkok | Royal Bling 1

 

Grand Palace is the home to the Thai royal family until 1946. That so many jewels have been cramped into a small area near the Menam Chaoya River make the effect of the site overwhelming. Upon the entrance is the resplendent Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaeo. It is the holiest of all Thai wats, where the small green-jade statue of the Buddha is housed. Mounted high on the golden altar in the royal chapel, it is the most sacred image in Thailand. First discovered in 1434 inside a stupa in Chiang Rai (the northernmost province), it was carved from a block of green jade. Originally covered in plaster, the abbot who found it thought it was an ordinary buddha image until the plaster chpped away, revealing the green stone underneath. That several miracles occurred after its discovery gives the Buddha an unmatched reputation for bringing good fortune. Although picture is not allowed in this chapel, a walk through the hall allows one to soak up the tradition of firm belief the Thai people have in Budhism and in their nation. The golden outer walls along the cloister are supported by kinnari, half-humans and devils. Gilded angels that perch on the eaves reflect the sun, and bells along the roofline give voice to the wind.

In its exuberant splendor, the golden Phra Si Ratana Chedi on the upper terrace of the complex is what might compete against the Royal Monastery for visitors’ attention. The giant pagoda houses ashes of Buddha. Next to it is the Royal Pantheon in which statues of past sovereigns of the ruling Chakri dynasty are enshrined. The Mondop, the library, is a repository for Buddhist sacred scriptures, Tripitaka, that are inscribed on palm leaves. These scriptures are contained within a mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinet. Scattered around the terrace are statues of elephants and mythical beings. Graced a corner on the terrace is a stone statue of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

As much as I try to appear a seasoned travler, I almost fall as a victim to one of Bangkok’s most scandalous scam on the way out of the palace. I’ll tell you next time.