Almost every visitor to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, should never pass up the opportunity to admire the sumptuous Silver Pagoda, which is one of marvelous works of construction in the southern RoyalPalace complex.
Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Silver Pagoda, formally known as Wat Phreah Keo Morakot which means “The temple of the Emerald Buddha, sits side by side with the Royal Palace on Sothearos Boulevard as two attractions separated by a walled walkway, but they are visited as one. The reputable Silver Pagoda, originally constructed of wood in 1886, was significantly expanded in 1962 by King Sihanouk who had the floor covered with more than five tons of gleaming silver tiles. Thanks to that, the pagoda is so named.
The compound of Silver Pagoda in the RoyalPalace comprises a number of structures, including a library, stupas, shrines and monuments, statues and the gorgeous landscape garden. Read more: travel to Cambodia
Tropical garden in the pagoda
Surrounded by the high walls and deep into the entire RoyalPalace complex, the pagoda is by no ways penetrated by traffic noise, which renders it so tranquil, allowing visitors to feel its sacredness. The pagoda courtyard is ringed by a covered walkway with a large-scale wall mural which somewhat reveals Cambodia’s history and mythology to you.
Extracted from the wall mural
Hanging within the ground, you will easily realize there stand five stupas, the two largest to the east of which contain the ashes of King Norodom and King Udung and between them is a statue of King Norodom on horseback, probably inspiring you with the image of him to guard outside. Most of the area is covered with carpets with the exception of a small ground at the entrance way. Read more: Tours in Cambodia
Stupas in the pagoda
The staircase leading up to the Silver Pagoda impresses everyone who steps on it with a luxurious appearance because it is made of Italian marble. Inside, the pagoda is highlighted by the large jade Buddha statue, an image of Emerald Buddha, which is believed to bo made of baccarat crystal and is located on a gilded pedestal high atop the dais. In front of that stands a 90-kilogram solid-gold Buddha studded with more than 2,000 sparkling diamonds, the largest of which is 25 carats in weight. Amongst Silver Pagoda’s thousand works of art, the large majority describe Buddha in plentiful postures and facial expression, all of which are made of valuable materials ranging from gold to silver and bronze. Read more: Travel Indochina
Inside the Silver Pagoda
Buddha sculpture in the garden
You will rarely run into any monks in Silver Pagoda when walking around it because monks are only here to meet the King for their sermons or to attend Royal ceremonies.
Large-scale model of the Temple of Angkor
Both the RoyalPalace and the Silver Pagoda is daily open, from 7.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2.00 p.m. ro 5.00 p.m. It is exceedingly essential for you to know about stringent dress code of the place due to its majesty: you are not entitled to wear shorts, short skirts, tight tops and any kind of hats and backpacks, and you are required to cover your shoulders.
The Indochina Voyages team.
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