Wat Phra Kaeo, Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Wat Phra Kaeo is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai featuring structures built in the traditional Thai style. The buildings display gilded surfaces, detailed wall paintings of religious subjects, and courtyards arranged according to classical northern Thai design principles.
The site emerged as a Buddhist sanctuary and gained prominence in 1434 when lightning revealed the presence of a famous jade Buddha statue inside. This sacred image remained there as a center of veneration for several centuries afterward.
The temple remains an active place of worship where locals come to pray and participate in religious observances throughout the year. Visitors can witness the sounds of chanting and see devotees leaving offerings, giving a sense of how the place functions in daily life.
The temple is open to visitors daily and requests that guests wear respectful clothing covering shoulders and knees. Visitors should remove shoes before entering main halls and can take photographs, though this should be done quietly without disrupting prayer areas.
The temple once held one of Buddhism's most precious treasures within its walls for several hundred years before it was eventually moved. This historical role makes it a significant landmark in the spiritual history of northern Thailand.
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