Temple of the Emerald Buddha oldest and most famous statues of the Buddha in the world

Bangkok’s Buddhist temple is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, situated within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The primary building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha, one of the oldest and most famous statues of the Buddha in the world.

A jade statue decorated in gold clothing, the Emerald Buddha was, according to legend, created in India in 43 BC in the city of Pataliputra, where it remained for 300 years. In the 4th century AD it was taken away to Sri Lanka by Buddhist monks to save it from damage by war.

Finally the statue made its way to Thailand and was moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1779. The statue has three different sets of gold clothing, which is changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons.