- Address: Samdach Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (next to the Royal Palace, intersection of streets 184 and 240)
- Denomination: Theravada (Buddhism)
- Founder: King Norodom I
- Date of foundation: 1866
Each state has its own symbol. Everything connected with a particular country is associated with it. This could be the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Red Square in Moscow or the Statue of Liberty in New York. B is the Silver Pagoda.
What is the Silver Pagoda?
The Silver Pagoda is located in the capital of Cambodia and is considered the official Buddhist temple of the king himself. It is part of the palace complex and was built a little to the south. In the Khmer language the name of the pagoda is Wat Preah Keo, and official name even twice as long - Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot. The pagoda building is white, the shutters on the windows are painted red and gold.
The temple building was built in 1866, already in the twentieth century, in 1962, it was significantly expanded and completed. Almost all the buildings of the Buddhist temple are wooden.
The Silver Pagoda represents all the beauty of the Khmer civilization; it was not touched even during the dictatorship of Pol Pot. Everything was kept in its original form.
What to see?The monastery building is a local treasury: it houses national treasures and Buddha statues, shining with precious stones. Some of the most famous statues are:
- A small figurine made of French crystal, made in the 17th century at the French glass factory of St. Anne in the city of Baccarat and nicknamed the Emerald Buddha, is the most important statue.
- Golden Maitreya Buddha, commissioned for the king in 1906-1907. The Buddha is cast life-size and adorned with 9,584 diamonds. The statue weighs 90 kg and is dressed in the regalia of a monarch.
Also kept here are a bronze and silver Buddha statue, two small gold Buddha statues also with diamonds, a marble Buddha and a portable golden coronation throne. 12 people can lift it.
Under King Norodom Sihanouk, the floor of the Silver Pagoda was made of small silver tiles weighing one kilogram, more than 5,000 of them in total. To prevent theft, each tile is securely nailed to the floor, and the total weight of silver used exceeds 6 tons. That's where it went from here interesting name buildings. In those same years, part of the façade of the pagoda was rebuilt in marble.
Around the territory of the pagoda there is a six-hundred-meter wall, decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting heroes of the Indian epic. The entrance to the temple territory starts from the openwork gate. In front of the Silver Pagoda itself, an artificial pond with red fish was created, in the center of which a model rises. A beautiful marble staircase made of Italian stone leads inside.
How to visit the Silver Pagoda?
If you are going to look inside the Silver Pagoda, you must remove your shoes and hat and go through the guard's strict dress code: your clothing must cover your knees and shoulders, sleeves are required, and a scarf or stole will not be enough. Tickets are sold at the palace box office, and here you can book a full tour or take an audio guide. You can get there
The Silver Pagoda is the most important architectural object that has come to us since 1896. The temple is one of the valuable historical buildings of Phnom Penh, which belongs to Cambodia. The founder of the Silver Pagoda is King Norodom Sihanouk, who reigned at that time.
The design is very original and beautiful view. The material of this majestic structure is wood. But it got its name Silver for a reason, but because of the silver blocks on the floor, which are a real decoration of the interior of the Pagoda. The weight of one silver tile is about one kilogram, and there are at least 5 thousand of them in total. The blocks are firmly nailed to the floor to prevent theft.
The main building of the Silver Pagoda contains the country's national wealth. The main sculpture of the temple is the Emerald Buddha, the material for the construction of which is baccarat crystals. This statue dates back to the 17th century and thanks to it the Pagoda is also called the Emerald Pagoda. Near the Emerald Buddha there is an equally valuable sculpture of the same Buddha, only made of gold. It took as much as 90 kg of this precious metal. It is decorated with diamond stones, of which there are as many as 9,584 pieces. The largest of them reaches as much as 25 carats. The golden Buddha is dressed in royal regalia, at the behest of the king.
There is also a Buddha here, which is made of bronze. Its weight is 80 kg. There is also a marble Buddha in the Pagoda, which was made by Burmese craftsmen. The king's throne was placed in the temple, some parts of which were cast in gold. During the coronation, 12 people were able to move this throne.
Visitors to the Silver Pagoda remove their shoes and hats before entering the premises.
The pagoda in Cambodia is an extremely beautiful, chic place where top level Khmer civilization is represented. The temple is surrounded by a wall, six hundred meters long, which is lavishly decorated with frescoes with scenes of the most important events of the reign of the Khmer state. The entrance to the majestic structure is a lattice gate. In front of the building there is a model of Angkorwat, which is surrounded by a moat filled with clean water. Fish are bred here and serve as wonderful living decorations.
The site also houses a bell tower and a stupa where the remains of King Suromarit and Queen Kossomak are kept. The stupa is lavishly decorated with carvings and various figures. The main building of Silver Weather is white in color and has a majestic appearance, accessed by a luxurious marble staircase.
A trip to this area will become a significant event in your life.
The Silver Pagoda is a Buddhist temple located on the territory of the Royal Palace complex in the center of the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It got its name due to the fact that its floor is paved with silver tiles.
Inside the temple there is a golden Buddha statue (90 kilograms pure gold), decorated with many diamonds. In addition, in the Silver Pagoda you can get acquainted with valuable objects of Khmer art, not many of which survived the Pol Pot regime (1975-79).
A model of the Angkor Wat temple is installed in front of the Silver Pagoda on the grounds of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Angkor Wat (literally "temple city") is the largest religious building ever created and one of the most important archaeological sites peace. Located in the vicinity of the city, Angkor is a gigantic temple complex, dedicated to the god Vishnu. The city of Angkor was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150).
The extensive courtyard around the Silver Pagoda is surrounded by a high fence with gates designed in the style of the Royal Palace buildings. In the courtyard there are several stupas with the ashes of Cambodia's right-handed kings, a fountain with a miniature copy of Angkor Wat, a statue of King Norodom and many other auxiliary buildings.
A large number of potted flowers and miniature trees are used to decorate the yard and decorate its buildings. Many workers make sure that the courtyards of the Royal Palace always impress visitors with impeccable beauty and cleanliness.
Construction of the royal residence in Phnom Penh began in 1865, when the city again became the capital of Cambodia.
At first the complex was wooden, later, in 1912-1917, it was built in stone; its appearance harmoniously intertwines authentic Khmer architecture and European gardening art.
The palace was built for King Norodom I and still remains the active residence of the ruling dynasty.
Diagram of the Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace in Phnom Penh
The most monumental structure of the complex is the Throne Hall (Preah Tineang Tevea Vinnichay), thanks to its graceful columns and thin spiers, it seems to be floating above the ground. The building is cruciform in shape, with the four-faced Brahma on the highest, 60-meter spire. Particularly important ceremonies are held in the palace: ceremonial meetings foreign delegations, diplomatic receptions, coronations, royal weddings.
Throne Hall, Royal Palace, Phnom Penh The rear side of the Throne Room overlooks the territory where the current king Norodom Sihamoni lives. This part is fenced with a wall and is not accessible to visitors. Only the upper floors and the roof of the palace are visible Khemarin (Preah Moha Prasat Khemarin) occupied by the royal administration.
Two small pavilions on the square in front of the Throne Hall used to perform “auxiliary” functions, but today collections of musical instruments, as well as gifts and souvenirs from foreign heads of state are exhibited in the Recreation Pavilion (Hor Samran Phirun), and in the Bronze Palace the Bronze Palace / Hor Samrith Vimean) - royal regalia, ceremonial costumes and headdresses.
Phochani Pavilion, Bronze Palace (right), Khemarin Palace (background right) The open-air Phochani Pavilion, once a theater stage for dance performances, is now used for organizing diplomatic meetings.
Behind the Bronze Palace, close to the Administrative Offices, is the small snow-white Napoleon Pavilion. III (Pavilion of Napoleon III), donated by the French Emperor Norodom I. The openwork wrought-iron pavilion often hosts photo exhibitions. The two-story, all-metal building, thanks to its high semicircular windows, colonnades and twisted decor, blends harmoniously with the surrounding architecture, and the main white color gives the effect of lightness and transparency. By the way, the building of the Administrative Offices (Preah Reach Damnak Chan) is also different from other buildings in style - Khmer and European motifs are intertwined in its eclectic appearance. The administrative offices of the Royal Palace were built much later - in 1953.
Napoleon III Pavilion, Royal Palace, Phnom Penh Majestic Chan Pavilion Chaya (Preah Thineang Chan Chhaya), surrounded by green lawns, one side goes outside the palace complex - to the embankment. The Lunar Pavilion is used as a platform to accommodate the royal delegation during public celebrations, ceremonies, addresses to the people, and festive concerts. Through the Victory Gate next to the pavilion, ceremonial royal processions used to leave for the city.
Moon Pavilion, Royal Palace, Phnom Penh Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo Morokat)
The palace complex is clearly divided into two parts - the royal residence and the temple area called the Silver Pagoda. The entrance to the Buddhist shrine runs through the patterned East Gate with images of Buddha. The artificial hill Phnom Mandop in the religious part symbolizes Mount Kailash, sacred to Buddhism. The stupa at its top contains the footprint of the Enlightened One, and along the way to it there are many statues of the Teacher in different poses.
Hall for Buddhist monks, Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh The main temple is Wat Phra pagoda Keo (Wat Preah Keo Morokat)– surrounded by memorial stupas, monuments, an open pavilion Dhammasala (Hall for Buddhist monks), where monks read sacred texts, a small library (Mondapa of Satra & Tripitaka) - a place to store these texts and other religious literature, green gardens and flower beds. Four beautiful stupas containing the ashes of members of the royal family are made of gray stone, covered with continuous elaborate carvings. Next to the stupa of King Norodom I, under a snow-white gazebo-canopy, there is a statue of him on a prancing horse. In addition to Norodom I, his father, King Ang Duong, and his granddaughter, Princess Kantha, are buried in the stupas. Bopha (Stupa of HRH Princess Kantha Bopha).
The Silver Pagoda is a temple of Buddha worshipers, built back in 1896 by King Norodom Sihanouk.
Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh An interesting fact is that the basis of the structure is wood, but despite this, the temple continues to delight tourists for more than a hundred years. Its originality lies in the material from which the floor covering of the temple is made - these are silver tiles weighing 1 kg. Each silver block is securely attached to the floor so that no one can remove the precious metal from the temple.
In 1975, power in Cambodia passed into the hands of the Khmer Rouge Communist Party. The atheistically minded government of the state did not dare to desecrate the Silver Pagoda - all values were preserved. Traditionally, as a sign of respect for Buddha, temple visitors remove their hats and shoes. Moreover, it is necessary to preserve the integrity of the temple as a great historical landmark.
The national treasure of Cambodia is the values preserved within the walls of the Silver Pagoda. The main statue of the temple - the Emerald Buddha or Emerald Buddha - was made of baccarat crystals back in the 17th century. Thanks to her, the Silver Pagoda also has a second name - the Emerald Pagoda. This statue is given a special central place in the temple - on a golden support.
The full-length statue of the golden Buddha or Maitreya Buddha also attracts the attention of visitors. The Golden Buddha statue contains 90 kg of pure gold. And that's not it! The statue is decorated with 9584 huge diamonds - the largest is 25 carats! The robe of the golden Maitreya Buddha - the royal regalia - was made by order of King Sisowath.
To the left of the golden Buddha is a bronze Buddha (80 kg), and to the right is a silver Buddha. Behind the Emerald Buddha is a marble Buddha. This statue was skillfully made by craftsmen from Burma. There is also a portable royal throne, which was intended for the coronation ceremony. The gold watch alone, included in the composition of the throne-bed, weighs 23 kg, so during the ceremony the throne was carried by 12 strong men. At the end of the Silver Pagoda hall there are two more golden Buddhas, encrusted with sixteen-carat diamonds!
Near the entrance to the temple complex there is a model of Angkorwat, surrounded by a pothole of water in which red fish live.
Small scale model of Angkorvat, Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh On the left side of the entrance to the temple there is a Bell Tower, but on the right side there is a stupa (Stupa of HM King Suramarith adm HM Queen Kossomak), in which the ashes of King Suramarit and Queen Kossomak rest. This stupa contains a large number of carvings of lions, elephants and guards. Over the entire surface it is also decorated with rather fine plaster carvings.
Stupa of HM King Suramarith adm HM Queen Kossomak, Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh Around the complex
The landscape park, which occupies the entire territory of the palace complex, is laid out according to a European model. Trimmed lawns and trees, figured lawns and green borders, panoramic alleys are reminiscent of the gardens of French palaces - Trianon, Versailles. True, adjusted for Asian flora - palm trees, tropical plants and exotic flowers.
The buildings of the royal palace were built according to the designs of a Khmer architect, but French specialists were involved in planning and laying out the lush gardens. Not only because there are no traditions in Khmer culture park art, and also due to the fact that Cambodia has actually been a French colony since 1865.
The whole complex perfectly characterizes the ancient Khmer civilization, its powerful influence on its people and surrounding countries, as well as its attitude towards religion. Built around the entire complex huge wall, the height of which reaches 600 meters. This is not just a block of stone, but a whole artistic structure. Here you can find unique frescoes depicting the Ramayana, Rimk, etc. All frescoes are made in the Khmer style.
How to get there
The palace is in the center tourist area Phnom Penh, at the confluence of the Tonle Sap tributary with the Mekong. The entrances to the complex are located on the promenade.
You can get to them by taxi, tuk-tuk (motorized rickshaw), or minibuses. All kinds of minibuses do not run along a specific route, but pick up passengers at stops in the desired areas of the city. In general, fares in the capital are low, and finding a free rickshaw is not difficult.
Regular buses plying along Monivong Boulevard stop quite far from the palace, and another regular route transport(metro, trolleybuses, trams) in Phnom Penh.
Wat Preah Kaew Morakot (Silver Pagoda) is located in the southern part of the Royal Palace complex. The Pagoda was previously known as Wat Uborsot Rotannaram because the king prayed and practiced Buddhism here. Royalty and officials also held Buddhist ceremonies here. There are no monks in the pagoda. His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk lived here for one year after becoming a monk on July 31, 1947. Since there are no monks living in the pagoda, visitors usually call it Preah Vihea Preah Keo Morakot. When Buddhist ceremonies are held here, monks from other pagodas are invited here - for example, Wat Unaloam and Wat Botumwattey. Preah Vihea Preah Keo Morakot Pagoda was built in 1892-1902, during the reign of King Norodom. However, at that time the pagoda was built of wood and brick in the traditional architectural style of Cambodia. The ceremony of Banhchos Khan Diet was held on February 5, 1903.
Later, the pagoda was partially destroyed and Queen Kosamak Neari Rath asked for its restoration. Under the leadership of her son Samdach Preah Norodom Sihanouk, who led the country at the time, the old pagoda was dismantled and rebuilt in 1962 on the same site. The floor of the pagoda was paved with silver blocks, and the columns were decorated with glass stones brought from Italy. Architectural style The pagoda remained the same. The pagoda was named Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot because the main Buddha statue, made of priceless marble, is called Keo Morakot by Cambodians. Foreigners, however, prefer to call the temple the Silver Pagoda because its floor is covered with 5,329 silver tiles.
The pagoda houses 1,650 artifacts of the highest cultural value. Most of these artifacts are Buddha statues made of gold, silver, bronze and other valuable materials. Some statues are decorated with diamonds. The statues are gifts from the King, royal family, dignitaries and other people who come here to pray for peace, prosperity, happiness, preservation cultural heritage Cambodia for the next generations. In front of the throne stands a golden Buddha statue weighing 90 kilograms (about 200 pounds). This statue is decorated with 2,086 diamonds, the largest of which, 25 mm in diameter, is on the crown. The statue was created under King Sisowath at the suggestion of King Norodom. King Norodom ordered that after his body was cremated, the golden coffin would be melted down and a Buddha statue made of gold. This statue was named Preah Chin Raingsey Rachik Norodom.
The most interesting artifacts in Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot include Preah Keo Morakot - a statue of the Emerald Buddha seated on a throne in the very center of the pagoda. There is also a small glass cabinet in which, according to Buddhists, the ashes of Buddha are kept. The ashes were brought from the island of Sri Lanka in 1956 by a monk who lived in Vam Langka in Phnom Penh. In the next office there is a golden statue of Buddha, donated in 1969 by Queen Kosamak Nearirat - the mother of King Norodom Sihanouk. The Buddha statue is protected by a naga snake. Artifacts in other rooms represent objects used in Buddhist religious ceremonies. The pagoda is surrounded by a spacious gallery. The gallery walls are decorated with traditional images from the epic work Ream Ke. The images were painted by 40 Cambodian artists under the direction of Oknha Tep Nimit between 1903 and 1904. The length of the image is 642 meters and the width is 3 meters. The image begins at the southern end of the east gallery and encircles the entire gallery. To view the entire image, visitors must walk around the gallery.
The illustration of the epic work Ream Ke contains a unique scene that is not completely copied from the Indian Ramayana. Some scenes from the Cambodian epic Ream Ke are full of mystery, and visitors are advised to study the images carefully. Those familiar with the Indian epic Ramayana will have no difficulty understanding scenes from the Cambodian epic Ream Ke, even though the two versions are different from each other. Astrologers use these scenes to predict the future. Because of weather conditions and the damage caused by visitors, the quality of some images leaves much to be desired. In 1985, the governments of Cambodia and Poland joined forces to restore and protect these images. However, due to the suspension of funding, restoration work had to be curtailed after 5 years. The Cambodian government is currently seeking ways to preserve, restore and maintain this valuable cultural heritage.
Before the Pali School was opened on December 16, 1930, monks from Phnom Penh and other provinces taught the Pali language in classrooms along the gallery. In front of Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot there are two stupas and a statue protected by a roof. The southern stupas contain the remains of King Ang Doung, the great-great-grandfather of King Norodom, and the northern stupas contain the remains of King Norodom's great-grandfather, the great-grandfather of King Sihanouk. Both stupas were installed here on March 13, 1980. The statue of King Norodom on horseback was erected in 1875. It was a gift from the King of France, Napoleon III. The statue was kept in front of the Preah Vihea Preah Keo Morakot Temple in 1892, but the temple did not have a roof at that time. While trying to win the country's independence from French rule, King Sihanouk prayed in front of this statue. After independence on November 11, 1953, King Sihanouk ordered the construction of a roof in honor of King Norodom.
South of Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot, near the Thamma Hall and the stupa of King Norodom Soramrit, built in 1960, stands Keung Phra Bat Keung Preah Bat with the footprints of the four Buddhas who achieved nirvana. These Buddhas are Kok Santor, Neak Komonor, Kasabor and Damonakodom. There is also a fifth Buddha here - Preah Srey Arinetrey, who, according to Buddhists, has not yet been born. Buddhists believe that he will be born 5,000 years after the fourth Buddha achieves nirvana. In their opinion, he will come to this world to help people. Phnom Mondul is an artificial hill that symbolizes the Phnom Kailash hill where Buddha left his footprint on the stone. On Phnom Mondul Hill there is a statue of Buddha and symbols of the 108 blessings that precede the Buddha's attainment of nirvana.
The Kuntabof Stupa was built in 1960 to store the ashes of Princess Norodom Kuntabof, daughter of King Norodom Sihanouk. She died at the age of 4 from dengue fever. The architectural style of the stupa resembles the style ancient temple Banteay Srei in Siem Reap. To the west of Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot is the Bell Hall. The ringing of bells marks various ceremonies, as well as the opening and closing of the Silver Pagoda. In past ringing bells monks who studied the Pali language were summoned to the Palace. To the north is a building that houses the Tipitaka, a collection of Buddhist sacred texts. One of the collections of these texts is called Sutta Pitaka.
The Sutta Pitaka is a collection of dialogues between the Buddha and other people. The five groups of texts are Digha Nikaya (a collection of long discourses), Mijhima Nikaya (a collection of medium discourses), Samutta Nikaya (a collection of grouped discourses), Anguttara Nikaya (a collection of discourses on numbered topics) and Kuddaka Nikaya (a collection of all other texts). The fifth group - Jatakas - are stories from the past lives of the Buddha, and the Dhammapada is a summary of the Buddha's teachings on discipline and morality. Vinaya Pitaka - the code of monastic discipline - includes more than 225 rules governing the way of life Buddhist monks and nuns. Each rule is accompanied by a story explaining its origin. The rules are given according to the severity of the violation.
Abhidharma Pathika includes philosophical, psychological and doctrinal discussions and classifications. Consists of seven separate works, including detailed classifications of psychological phenomena, metaphysical analysis and a technical dictionary. The building also houses a statue of Shiva. This artifact was discovered in Koh Thom district, Kandal province in 1983. The statue is made of 80% silver and 20% bronze, copper, lead, iron and zinc.
