Contemplate the gleam beneath your feet. Those are silver tiles. You are now standing before the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh. It is also known as Wat Preah Keo Morakot. This translates to Temple of the Emerald-Crystal Buddha. It is a treasure trove of Cambodian history and artistry.
Originally, the Silver Pagoda was built of wood in 1892. King Norodom ordered its construction. He was inspired by Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew. It was rebuilt in 1962 with brick and concrete. The Silver Pagoda has survived years of war and turmoil. Its splendor remains today.
The Silver Pagoda’s floor is paved with over 5,000 silver tiles. Each tile is thick and large. This is where the temple gets its name. These silver tiles weigh over 1,125 kg in total. Only a small area of the tiles is visible to the public. This is to protect them.
Inside the Silver Pagoda, you will find many treasures. There is a 17th-century Emerald Buddha. It sits on a gilded pedestal. A life-sized Maitreya Buddha statue is also here. It weighs 90 kg and is made of gold. The statue is adorned with 9,584 diamonds. The largest diamond weighs 25 carats. King Sisowath commissioned the statue. It was created in the palace workshops between 1906 and 1907. After the Cambodian Civil War, most of the diamonds were lost.
King Norodom Sihanouk lived at the Silver Pagoda for a year. This was during the construction of Preah Phnos. He was ordained as a monk here. The temple was renamed Wat Ubaosoth Preah Chin Rangsey Reachea Norodom Ratanaram.
Murals cover the walls surrounding the Silver Pagoda. These murals depict the Reamker. Cambodian artists painted them in 1903-1904. Oknha Tep Nimit Mak directed the artists. He was the architect of the Silver Pagoda. The murals extend 642 meters long and 3 meters high. They tell the story of the Reamker from beginning to end. In 1985, the Cambodian and Polish governments collaborated. They wanted to protect and restore the paintings. In 2015, the project was revived. Foreign and Cambodian craftsmen restored the murals.
The Silver Pagoda is a notable wat in Phnom Penh. Its grounds are used for national and royal ceremonies. The cremated remains of Norodom Sihanouk are interred here. They rest in the stupa of Kantha Bopha.
In the courtyard, a chapel houses a silver-gilt Buddha footprint. Stupas store the ashes of late kings and queens. A visit to the Silver Pagoda offers insight into Cambodia’s past and present. It connects you to the rich heritage of Khmer artistry. Take a moment to reflect on the treasures. Remember the stories held within these walls.