Thailand Restaurants and Bars
| TRAVEL ASIA section:: Cambodia | China | India | Indonesia | Japan | Korea | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam |
|
|
Best Sites about Thailand Restaurants and Bars
Related Story about Thailand:
THE WAT PHRA KAEW
The Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok, within the grounds of the Grand Palace.The construction of the temple started when King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) moved capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1785. Unlike other temples it does not contain living quarters for monks; rather, it has only the highly decorated holy buildings, statues, and pagodas.
The main building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha. Even though it is small in size it is the most important icon for Thai people. Legends hold that the statue originated in India, but it first surfaced in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1434. It finally came to Bangkok when King Taksin fought with Laos and his general Chakri took it from Vientiane, first to Thonburi. In 1784 it was moved to its current location. Haw Phra Kaew, a former temple in Vientiane, is considered by many Lao people as the Emerald Buddha's rightful place.
The wall surrounding the temple area – from the outside only a plain white wall – is painted with scenes from the Thai version of the Ramayana mythology, the Ramakian. Several statues in the temple area resemble figures from this story, most notably the giants (yak), five-meter high statues. Also originating from the Ramayana are the monkey kings and giants which surround the golden chedis.
The Temple also contains a model of Angkor Wat, added by King Nangklao, as the Khmer empire of Cambodia and the Thais share cultural and religious roots.
Powered by DWodp live version 1.2.4 Copyright © 2003-2004 Dominion Web
