The Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morakot, or "Temple of the Emerald Crystal Buddha") is located on the greater Cambodian Royal Palace Grounds. The temple itself was completed in the 19th Century. It is known as the Silver Pagoda by tourists as the floor is covered with 5,329 silver tiles, each weighing 1.25 kg. ( you cannot walk directly on them). Additionally, the temple is filled with over 1600 artifacts of Buddhism including many items of gold and silver. The masterpiece is a standing statue of Maitreya Buddha of gold which weighs 90 kg (198 lbs.) and includes 9584 diamonds, including one of 25 carats. It also includes a green crystalline Buddha manufactured in the 18th or 19 Century.
Sadly, no pictures are allowed in the interior.
Outside of the Silver Pagoda. The model you see in front of it is of Angkor Wat, which we will soon be visiting.
I'm so grateful to view blog posts like this TB. I doubt I will ever leave Canada so, seeing these photos helps me to appreciate the beauty of all cultures and countries. Those temples are just so astounding! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteRain, you are more than welcome. It is a joy to be able to share these places with others. This one (Cambodia and Vietnam) especially, as I do not think many Westerners or North Americaners (probably should be "North Americans", but I like mine better) ever get to.
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the poor fool who has to polish the silver floor to keep it from tarnishing!
ReplyDeleteEd, fortunately for any potential polishers much of it was covered - but yes, would that not be a chore?
DeleteDarn good posting TB.....9584 diamonds...not 9580 or 9500, huh. Diamonds, gold, silver, that's a lot of precious items in one spot. Thanks for sharing these photos.
ReplyDeleteNylon12, I wish we could have taken pictures of the inside. It was very impressive.
DeleteThe floor - from what I could see of it - was pretty neat.
A much more ornate offering for this post, really interesting. Especially the loom! It looks like it's still in use. Any idea what kind of fabric they wove on it?
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I do not have a particular idea - given other materials we saw there, maybe silk or cotton?
DeleteThis was far from the only loom we saw.