Imagine stepping into a world of shimmering silver. The Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh awaits. Its true name is Wat Preah Keo Morokat or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Yet, it’s the gleaming silver floor tiles that earned its popular name.
This isn’t your typical pagoda. The Silver Pagoda Phnom Penh is where the King meets monks. Royal ceremonies take place here. It’s home to priceless Buddhist and historical treasures. Notably, no monks reside here.
King Norodom started its construction between 1892 and 1902. The equestrian statue of King Norodom was placed in 1892. Later, other structures were added. These include stupas and the Kantha Bopha memorial sanctuary. Major reconstruction occurred in 1962. Fresco murals were renovated from 1985 to 1987. The Khmer Rouge looted many treasures between 1975 and 1979. Fortunately, they kept much of the collection intact for propaganda.
Five tons of gleaming silver cover the floor of the Silver Pagoda. You can see some of the 5,000 tiles near the entrance. Most are covered for protection. An extraordinary Baccarat-crystal Buddha sits atop a gilded pedestal. A life-sized solid-gold Buddha adds to the opulence. It weighs 90kg. It’s adorned with 2,086 diamonds. The largest diamond weighs 25 carats.
Italian marble makes up the staircase leading to the Silver Pagoda. Inside sits the Emerald Buddha. Some say it is made of Baccarat crystal. Other sources say it was made in the 19th century by Lalique. The gold Buddha was created in the palace workshops between 1906 and 1907. In front of it, a miniature silver-and-gold stupa holds a relic of Buddha. This relic came from Sri Lanka. To the left stands an 80kg bronze Buddha. A silver Buddha stands to the right. Solid gold figurines on the far right tell the Buddha’s story.
King Norodom, inspired by Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew, originally built the Silver Pagoda of wood in 1892. It was rebuilt in 1962. The Khmer Rouge preserved it. They wanted to show concern for Cambodia’s cultural riches. More than half the pagoda’s contents were lost after the Vietnamese invasion. What remains is still spectacular. The Silver Pagoda is one of the few places to see the brilliance and richness of Khmer civilization.
Along the walls, find examples of Khmer artisanship. Admire intricate masks used in classical dance. See dozens of gold Buddhas. Gifts from foreign heads of state appear spiritless next to Khmer art. Photography is not allowed inside the Silver Pagoda.
The walls surrounding the Silver Pagoda show murals of the Reamker. Cambodian artists painted them between 1903 and 1904. The architect of the Silver Pagoda Oknha Tep Nimit Mak directed them. Two statues represent the legend of Preah Ko Preah Keo.
King Norodom Sihanouk lived here during the construction of Preah Phnos for a year. He was ordained as a monk here. The temple was renamed Wat Ubaosoth Preah Chin Rangsey Reachea Norodom Ratanaram.
Foreign tourists call this temple Wat Prak. This is due to the 5,329 silver tiles on the floor. They weigh 1,125 kg. There are 1,650 artifacts on display. Most are made of gold, silver, or bronze. They are adorned with precious stones. The standing Maitreya Buddha statue is made of 90 kilograms of gold. It contains 9,584 diamonds. The largest diamond is 25 carats.
The ancient paintings show peculiarities. The story seems somewhat inaccurate in Reamker. The Cambodian government and the Polish government collaborated in 1985 to restore the paintings. A project was revived in 2015 to restore the original vibrancy. The Silver Pagoda, a testament to Khmer artistry and history, awaits your discovery.