Private Tour to Three Must See Temples in Bangkok

The Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot) is the most important Buddha image in Thailand, cast from green jade. It was discovered in Chiang Rai in 1434 inside a collapsed stupa. Over time, it was moved through Lampang, Chiang Mai, and Lopburi, and in 1784 King Rama I brought it to Bangkok, where it is enshrined at Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace. Highly revered, the Emerald Buddha is dressed in seasonal gold robes, which the King changes three times a year, symbolizing both religious devotion and the protection of Thailand.

The Grand Palace was constructed together with the founding of Bangkok in 1782 when King Rama 1 ascended to the throne and founded a new dynasty. The Grand Palace is very important as it used to be the palladium of the state. It was used for both the royal residence and the administrative center of the country in the government system of absolute monarchy. Today, the palace is used just for ceremonials. The architectural plan of this palace was almost identical in every detail to the Grand Palace of the former capital of Ayutthaya (about 600 years ago) because the King wanted to recreate the glory of the city as it was in the past. So it was completely first built in traditional Thai style. However, at various periods, the influences from other nations affect to the architecture in Thailand in different reigns such as the Chinese elements introduced by King Rama 3 in the early 19th century and the western building style introduced by King Rama 5 in the late 19th century.

There is no clear evidence when the Reclining Buddha Temple or Wat Pho Temple was first built but we believe that the temple has been there for over 300 years before the founding of both the capital of Thonburi and Bangkok. There you will see the most beautiful Reclining Buddha image in Thailand with 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok’s most famous and iconic temples, located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple’s history dates back to the Ayutthaya period, but it was renovated and expanded during the reign of King Rama II in the early 19th century. The temple is named after Aruna, the Hindu god of dawn, symbolizing the rising sun. Its most striking feature is the central prang (tower), decorated with colorful porcelain and seashells, which rises over 67 meters high and can be seen from across the river. Wat Arun served as a royal temple and played a significant role in the Buddhist religious and cultural life of Thailand.