Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Posted by roma on February 11, 2015 in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Temples,

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is the official temple of the king of Cambodia.

The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. Formerly, it was known as Wat Ubosoth Ratanaram. The temple's official name is Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot (Khmer: ព្រះវិហារព្រះកែវមក៌ត, "Temple of the Emerald Buddha") which is commonly shortened to Wat Preah Keo (វត្តព្រះកែវ) in Khmer.

The vihara houses many national treasures including gold and jeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small 17th century baccarat crystal Buddha (the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia) and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. It was created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907, the gold Buddha weighs in at 90kg and is dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath. During KingNorodom Sihanouk's pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodeled with Italian marble. However only a small area of these tiles are available to be viewed by the public on entering the pagoda. Wikipedia

Here are some pictures:

The Temple

Entrance from the Royal Palace

Details around the temple compound

Phra Siratana Chedi

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Mandatory feet photo

a garden with stone buddhas

a museum inside the compound

loom weaving inside the compound

Pictures cannot be taken inside the temple, that's why it's all worth a visit. :)