Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh
The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh.
Formerly, it was known as Wat Ubosoth Ratanaram.
The temple's official name is Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot but is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo in Khmer.
The vihara houses many national treasures such as gold and jeweled Buddha statues.
Most notable is a small 17th century baccarat crystal Buddha (the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia) and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats.
It was created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907, the gold Buddha weighs in at 90kg and is dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath.
During King Norodom Sihanouk's pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodelled with Italian marble.
However only a small area of these tiles are available to be viewed by the public on entering the pagoda.
It is a notable wat (Buddhist temple) in Phnom Penh and the official temple of the King of Cambodia.
