Tucked away in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai, Wat Phra Kaew is a temple steeped in legend, royal heritage and spiritual significance. Once called Wat Pa Yeah or the "Bamboo Forest Temple," it was renamed after its association with the famed Emerald Buddha, now enshrined in Bangkok. Established as a royal temple during the Lanna Kingdom in the late 14th century, it stands as one of Chiang Rai’s oldest religious sites still in operation today.