Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Kaew is the most highly revered wat in Chiang Rai and, with its decent little museum and attractive grounds, probably also the most interesting to the casual visitor.

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Originally known as Wat Pa Yeah, (Temple of the Bamboo Grove), no-one is actually sure of its founding date but it has been around for a while since legend has it that in 1434 its stupa was struck by lightning and fell apart to reveal a concealed, emerald Buddha image. (Phra Kaew means green, or emerald, Buddha in the Thai language).

Just lovely. Photo taken in or around Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai, Thailand by Mark Ord.

Just lovely. Photo: Mark Ord

The story of the jade figure is a convoluted one. It is said to have been originally sculpted in India in 234 BCE and found its way via Sri Lanka to Angkor from where it was taken as loot by the Siamese to eventually finish in Kamphaeng Phet. In the 14th century the king of Chiang Rai somehow got his hands on it and moved it back to his hometown and installed it in what is today Wat Phra Kaew though not before, for reasons best known to himself, having it covered in stucco. It appears it was then more or less forgotten about until the aforementioned lightning ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 400 words.)

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