Silver Pagoda
| Silver Pagoda | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | វត្តឧបោសថរតនារាម |
| Also known as | Wat Ubaosoth Ratanaram |
| Site type | Temple |
| Location | Phnom Penh |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Period | 19th century |
| Subjects | Religion & Spiritual Life; Visual Arts & Design |
Silver Pagoda is a temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Wikipedia)
History
The temple was founded by King Norodom and completed in the 19th century. King Norodom Sihanouk lived there during the construction of Preah Phnos for a year and was ordained as a monk at the temple on July 31, 1947. The temple was renamed Wat Ubaosoth Preah Chin Rangsey Reachea Norodom Ratanaram because a monarch was living there as a monk. (Wikipedia)
Significance
The vihara houses national treasures, including a small green crystal Buddha known as the Emerald Buddha of Cambodia and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha weighing 90 kilograms and set with 9,584 diamonds. Its grounds are used for national and royal ceremonies, and the surrounding walls contain a 642-meter-long, 3-meter-high mural depicting the Reamker. The cremated remains of King Norodom Sihanouk are interred in the stupa of Princess Norodom Kantha Bopha on the temple compound. (Wikipedia)
Stewardship
In 1985, the Cambodian government collaborated with the Polish government on a project to protect and restore the Reamker paintings. In 2015, by royal decree of King Norodom Sihanouk, the restoration project was revived with foreign and Cambodian craftsmen. (Wikipedia)
Visiting
Only a small area of the 5,329 silver floor tiles is available for public viewing on entering the pagoda. (Wikipedia)