The temple of the Emerald Buddha is the Thai equivalent to the Sistine Chapel with its walls and ceilings of gold, precious gems and painted murals depicting various stories of the life of Buddha. This statue itself is 48.2 centimeters (1.58 ft ) wide and its height, from the base to the top of its head, is 66 centimeters (2.16 ft) however, it sits atop a throne that must be around 9 m (30 feet tall), and is totally adorned in gold.
The emerald Buddha is actually Jade not emerald. The statue was discovered inside a ceramic outer shell of a Buddha, (which was common when you wanted to hide something of value from invading armies) the monk that discovered it though it was emerald.... and the legend grew from there that it was given by a King of Gods to Nagasena of Pataliputara who magically put seven pieces of the Buddha's Holy Relics into it. It is thought to be over 2000 years old and is so revered that it is forbidden (and against the law) to take photographs inside the temple, so I purchased a postcard to record the image. Like the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem it is weird to watch the devoted believers surrounded by the irreverent hoards of tourists.
Three times during the year the emerald Buddha’s golden outfits are changed by the King to correspond with Thailand’s three seasons. (hot season, rainy season, and cool season). While the ceremony is going on it marks a short close to the fourth and perpetual season at this sacred spot, tourist season.
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