The main elements of the temple are as follows:

1. Ubosot	2. The Emerald Buddha	3. The Main Stupa
4. Phra Mondop	5. The Royal Pantheon	6. The Gallery
7. The Scripture Hall	8. Ankor Wat Model	9. Wihara
10. Ho Phra Nak	11. Stupas	12. Prangs

6. Phra Rabiang (the Gallery)

          Wat Phra Kaewl is surrounded on four sides by gallery. The gallery is noted for its murals painting the entire Ramakian (the Thai version of the Ramayana epic) . The Ramakian story about the war between the Lord Rama (God Narayan reincarnation) and demons reflects the belief that the Chakri kings are reincarnation of God Narayan, comparable to Lord Rama who suppressed the demons. The Chakri kings are also refered to as Rama.

          The verses telling the story of the painting are inscribed on marble slabs imbedded on the four sides of each pillar supporting the gallery roof. There are 4,984 verses altogether. For the 150 th Anniversary of Rattanakosin in A.D. 1932 the paintings were white-washed over and painted anew. The most recent restoration was done in the present reign; starting in 1965, it took seven years to complete, and modern technology was employed in an attempt to prevent future humidity problems.

7. Ho Phra Montien Tham (the Scripture Library Hall)

 

          The hall is unique in that it was built by artisans of the Prince of the Front Palace during the First Reign. When a fire destroyed the original library, the Prince had his artisans built the present library for the King. The finished work, especially the west facade is an example of the early Bangkok architectural style at its finest. The figures on the pediment are those of the Hindu god Indra on his elephant, Erawan, below and Brama riding the mythical swan, Hamsa, above.

          The middle of the three doors in this facade is particularly interesting as it was made in the early- 18th century during the reign of King Borommakot of Ayutthaya. It was salvaged from the assembly hall of a temple in the former capital and kept in the National Museum before being put to use here in the course of extensive restorations in preparation for the 150th Anniversary of the Foundation of Rattanakosin in 1932. The interior of the building is enlivened with the murals of the "Assembly of Divinities".

          In the early days after its completion, the building was used by monks and novices for religious studies. At present it is the repository for the Royal Golden Edition of the Canonical Text, which has been moved from the Phra Mondop, and other manuscripts. These texts are kept in numerous mother-of-pearl inlayed cabinets and cabinets with intricate gold designs on black lacquer. Most of these were made and donated by members of the royal family and nobility.

8. Ankor Wat model

 

          This model of Angkor Wat is on the terrace betwen the Phra Mondop and Prasat Phra Thep Bidon. King Rama IV ordered it built when Kampuchea was still a protectorate of Thailand, and it was completed in the reign of King Rama V. It is made of sandstone like the original one but not to the correct scale.

9. Phra Wiharn Yod

 

          The Spired Chapel catches the eye with its colourful decoration of ceramic pieces and a superstructure resembling the traditional multitiered Thai crown. The building was erected by King Rama III during whose reign the use of ceramic mosaic as architectural decoration became populr due to the spurt of growth in trade with China. The mother-of-pearl inlaid door panels of the front entrance are of early 18th century Ayutthaya craftsmanship. They originally belonged to temple in Ang Thong Province. Inside the Spired Chapel, Phra Nak (which has been removed from its original chapel) presides on a pedestal. Other important Buddha images are kept here as well as the ancient stone seat of the 13th century King Ram Kamhaeng of Sukhothai (the first Thai Kingdom) who is remembered for his creation of the Thai alphabet as well as for his administrative, political and military acumen that established Sukhothai's power in this region.

10. Ho Phra Nak

 

          A few years after the rest of the temple was constructed, this hall was originally by King Rama I as a chapel for a standing image of the Buddha, Phra Nak, that had been rescued from Ayutthaya. The Buddha made of an alloy of gold, copper and silver. King Rama III enlarged it to accomodate the individual golden urns that contained crematory remains of high-raking members of the present Dynasty in the Ayutthaya tradition of keeping relics of royalty in the Royal Chapel, Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Even though the building still carries the name 'Ho Phra Nak' the Buddha image itself was moved to the neighboring Wiharn Yod. The Ho Phra Nak is now used to house the ashes of minor royals.

11. Phra Chedi Thong

 

          The two golden stupas were believed to have been built at the command of King Rama I to be dedicated to his parents, one to his father and the other to his mother in an act of Buddhist merit-making. The stupas are square with redented based and spired pinnacles, a style popular during the first three reigns of the Bangkok era. They are made of brick, covered in copper foil and gilt.

          They were originally located next to the Royal Pantheon. Later, King Rama VI had the stupas moved to the present location.

          Each of the stupas are supported by a row of twenty demons and monkeys whose distinctive features, colours and crowns mark them as individual characters from the Ramakian, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic. The fact that they all wear crowns indicate that they are demons and monkeys of noble rank.

12. Phra Prang (the Eight Colored Prangs)

 

          To the west of the Royal Chapel, eight prangs each of a different colour stand in majestic alignment. Originally the prangs were gilded but they were later covered with coloured gilded but they were later covered with coloured ceramic mosaic pieces in intricate decorative patterns. High up on each stupa are niches for the guardian spirits of the cardinal and intermediate points. The prangs each bears a different name indicating its dedication to the Triple Gem (the Buddha, his Teaching and his Disciples) and to personages and concepts connected with Buddhist belief. The names, from north to south, are as follows :-

Phra Samma Sambuddha Maha Cetiya
Phra Sattham Pariyativara Maha Cetiya
Phra Ariya Sanghasavaka Maha Cetiya
Phra Ariya Savaka Bhiksuni Sangha Maha Cetiya
Phra Pacceka Bodhi Sambuddha Maha Cetiya
Phra Parama Cakravarti Raja Maha Cetiya
Phra Bodhisatva Krista Maha Cetiya
Phra Si Ariya Metaya Maha Cetiya