Velika Palata, Grand Palace, Hram Smaragdnog Bude, Temple of Emerald Buddha

U srcu starog dela Bankoka (Ratanakosin) nalazi se Velika Palata (Grand Palace).
In the hart of Bangkok old town (Rattanakosin) there is a Grand Palace.


Njena gradnja je počela 1782 u vreme vladavine Rame I. Tokom narednih 150 godina bila je dom Tajlandskim kraljevima, kraljevskom sudu i administrativno sedište vlade. Danas je kompleks palate spiritualni centar Tajlandskog kraljevstva.
Construction of the palace complex began in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. For the next 150 years it was a home to Thai Kings, Royal Court and administrative seat of government. Today, the complex is the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom.


Nalazi se na istočnoj obali reke Chao Praya na kojoj se odvija užurbani život stanovnika Bankoka. Palata je opasana velikim zidom dugim 1900 metara i ima površinu od 218,400 kvadratnih metara.
It sits on the east bank of Chao Phraya River which is the place where busy life of Bangkok citizens is happening. The Palace is protected by a defensive wall of 1,900 meters in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square meters.


Unutar zidina nalazi se nekoliko impresivniih zdanja među kojima je i Hram Smaragdnog Bude (Wat Phra Kaew) koji se smatra najvažnijim budističkim hramom na Tajlandu.
Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is considered the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand.




U njemu se nalazi čuvena mala i veoma cenjena, figura Smaragdnog Bude izrađena od jednog komada žada (u nekim izvorima jaspisa). Figura je visine oko 60cm i postavljena je visoko na nizu platformi. Smatra se da potiče iz 14. veka. Samo kralj može da pristupi figuri Bude. Veoma važan ritual, menjanja plašta (odeće) Smaragdnog bude izvodi jedino Kralj, tri puta godišnje u skladu sa letnjom, zimskom i kišnom sezonom. Ritual se izvodi u cilju donošenja sreće zemlji tokom svake sezone. Hram je divno dekorisan. Jednom kada uđete unutra osetićete potpuni mir. Sve je tiho i spokojno toliko da ćete poželeti da sedite satima na podu ispred Smaragdnog Bude. Dok sedite prekrstite noge u pozi za meditaciju jer je prema tajlandskom verovanju uvredljivo svoja stopala okretati prema bilo kome pa samim tim i prema obožavanoj svetinji. Hram i Velika Palata su sveta mesta pa se morate primereno obući. Ne možete ući u kratkim pantalonama, ili golišavih ramena. Ukoliko zaboravite na ovu činjenicu ispred hrama možete iznajmiti košulju sa kojom ćete ući u krug Velike palate.
It contains the small, very famous and greatly revered statue of Emerald Buddha carved of one piece of jade (according to some sources jaspis). The statue is about 60cm tall and it is raised high on a series of platforms. It is believed that it dates back from 14th century. Only HM the King is allowed to approach the statue of Buddha. The robes on the Buddha are changed with the seasons (summer, winter, raining) by HM The King of Thailand, and forms an important ritual in the Buddhist calendar. Ritual performs in order to bring good fortune to the country during each season. The Temple is beautifully decorated. Once you walk in you will feel absolute peace. Everything is quiet and relaxed so much that you'll wish to sit for hours on the floor in front of Emerald Buddha. While sitting, cross your legs in a meditation pose for, according to Thai believe, it is not polite to turn your feet towards anybody particularly towards sacred thing.
Temple and the Grand Palace are sacred places and you must dress appropriately. No shorts or revealing tops, otherwise you simply won't be allowed in. If you forget this fact you can rent clothes at the spot.


Arhitektura zgrada u Velikoj palati je čudesna i sastoji se od pozlaćenih kupola uglačanih raznobojnih krovnih pločica, mozaikom ukrašenih stubova.
Architecture of the buildings in Grand Palace is miraculous and it consists of gilded domes, shining multi color roof tiles and pillars decorated with mosaics.












Dvorišni prostor palate je ukrašen mnogobrojnim statuama mitskih bića i prelepim baštama.
Yard area is decorated with numerous statues of mythological creatures and beautiful gardens.






Kinara je u Budističkoj mitologiji i Hindu mitologiji paradigmatični ljubavnik nebeski muzičar u Indiji pola čovek pola konj a u jugoistočnoj Aziji pola čovek pola ptica. U epu Mahabharata opisani su kao večiti ljubavnici koji se nikada ne razdvajaju i koji ne dozvoljavaju da između njih postoji treće biće koje traži pažnju. Oni nikada ne postaju roditelji niti imaju roditelje. Njihov život je život neprekidnog zadovoljstva. Njegova partnerka je Kinare.
In Buddhist and Hindu mithology Kinnara is a paradigmatic lover, celestial musician, half - human and half - horse (India) or half - bird (south - east Asia). In Mahabharata epic they are depicted like everlasting lover who never separate and who do not permit between them any third creature demanding affection. Their life is a life of perpetual pleasure. His female partner is Kinnaree.


Hram čuvaju pet metara visoke Yakshe, divovi čuvari, likovi koji su uzeti iz tajlandske verzije indijskog epa Ramajana.
The Temple is guarded by the five-meter tall 'Yaksa Tavarnbal' (Gate-keeping Giants), the characters taken from Thai version of the Indian Ramayana epic.





Phra Si Ratana Chedi ili Zlatni Chedi je sagradio Rama IV sredinom devetnaestog veka. Obložen je malim zlatnim pločicama poput ogledalaca. U ovoj građevini čuva se delić Budine grudne kosti.
The Phra Si Ratana Chedi was built by Rama IV in the mid nineteenth century. The Chedi is faced with small gold mirrored tiles. The Chedi houses a piece of the Buddha's breastbone





Tajlandski kraljevi su prestali da žive u palati početkom dvadesetog veka ali se impresivni enterijer palate danas koristi za važne ceremonije kao što su krunisanja.
Thai Kings do not live in the palace since the beginning of the twentieth century, but nowadays its impressive interior is used for important ceremonial occasions like coronations.

P.S Ako želite da vidite svaku fotografiju posebno u punoj veličini dovoljno je da na nju kliknete.
If you wish to see the full size of the each photograph just click on it.