The Ultimate Guide to Wat Phra Kaew
From Wat Pho to Wat Arun to Wat Traimit, it’s hard to decide which ones to see. It’s naïve to think you’ll be able to them all. While I can’t attest for all of the temples, I’ll share my favorite. Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is considered by many the most important temple in all of Thailand. Located right in the middle of the historic area of Bangkok the temple is easily accessible. Keep in mind that while this is a tourist attraction this is a holy and religious site so dress appropriately. If you aren’t dressed modestly they will ask you to rent clothing that covers you.
So come prepared with your shoulders and knees covered.
The whole complex houses a ton of temples each more beautiful than the next.
Every time I turned around and got closer to a building I was literally speechless by the intricate details that surrounded it. Outside of the Temple that houses the Emerald Buddha, is a basin with water lilies and holy water where you and a friend can bless each other. Once you are ready to visit the temple you must remove your shoes and you can enter.
At first, I was disappointed that no pictures were allowed inside the temple.
However, after experiencing it for myself, I’m glad. When you walk in, everyone is kneeling before the Buddha bowing and praying. We immediately sat down and I felt hesitant to bow because we didn’t know how to do the prayer and didn’t want to offend anyone. Luckily we were sitting next to a couple who taught us how to perform the prayer and we followed their lead.
It’s hard to put into words the connection I felt.
I’m not sure how much time went by but I do know we were there for a while. At some point, I looked over at my friend and I realized we were both crying. I felt a sudden and overwhelming feeling of happiness. Often times we take so much for granted and think we are unlucky. But the truth is, even though I have experienced a lot of sadness and heartache, I so blessed. I have been to hundreds of temples, churches, mosques and I have never had a spiritual experience like I had at this temple. I’m not sure what did it for me but, I left feeling blessed and like I had cried out all the negative feelings I had been carrying. It was an experience I will never forget. While you may not experience the same spiritual connection I did, I guarantee you’ll appreciate the beautiful temple and its surroundings.
Below is your guide to visiting Wat Phra Kaew
Where to Stay
There are a ton of hotels and hostels within the area and they can range from prices. We use Agoda when booking hostels and find TripAdvisor reviews helpful as a way to further verify we’d want to stay there. The great thing about Bangkok is that because it is on the backpacker cirquit there are a ton of budget places. You get a ton more bang for your buck in Bangkok.
Transportation
I was with a tour so transportation was taken care of. The Grand Palace is located on Na Phra Lan Road, Old City. Standard buses (red, white/blue) 44, 47 and 91 stop on Thaiwang road between Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew, and buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 82 and 91 stop on Maharat road, on the west of Wat Phra Kaew. You can also hire a taxi or tuk-tuk.
Practical Stuff
The temples are in open air so bring sunscreen you will need it. This is a religious site no short pants or short skirts, no shoulders showing. Sarongs are for rent at the entrance for rent but avoid the lines and just dress accordingly. There is an on going scam where taxi drivers or people outside will tell you the compound is closed to lure you to another attraction, don’t fall for it, the compound is open.
Tickets & Admission
Wat Phra Kaew is open from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. Entrance fee of 500 Baht/14 USD. We paid $40 for a tour guide and transportation and I would highly recommend our tour if you would like a guided experience.
Written By:
Hi, I’m Jay. A twenty-something-year-old living in New York. There’s not all that much to say about me other than; I love to eat, drink and travel. I’ve lived in some incredible cities from Paris to New York to Florence, and along the way, I’ve crossed off a ton on my bucket list. I hope we inspire you to go out there and see for yourself, just how beautiful life can be.
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