Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, or Wat Phra Kaew, is a royal temple established to enshrine the Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakon (the Emerald Buddha). It also serves as a place for the monarch to perform various royal merit-making ceremonies in accordance with ancient royal traditions. A unique characteristic of this temple is that it consists only of the Buddha-vassa (the sacred area for the Buddha), meaning there are no resident monks, similar to Wat Mahathat in the Sukhothai Royal Palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet in the Ayutthaya Royal Palace. There are 12 surrounding pavilions (Sala Rai) located to the south and north of the main chapel (Ubosot), intended for devotees to listen to sermons or for students to recite the "O-E Wihan Rai" chants on significant occasions.