Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai is where the Emerald Buddha was discovered in 1434. According to the historical account, lightning struck a chedi in the temple grounds and cracked it open, revealing a green stucco image inside. When monks removed the stucco, they found a green jade statue — the Phra Kaeo Morakot — which would eventually make its way through Lampang, Chiang Mai, and Luang Prabang before ending up in Bangkok's Grand Palace, where it has remained as Thailand's most sacred Buddha image ever since.
The temple itself is an active place of worship in the heart of Chiang Rai's old quarter. A replica of the Emerald Buddha, created in 1990 and presented by the Thai royal family, now sits in the ordination hall. The grounds are peaceful and the buildings are well maintained. It is a calmer place than the famous temples further south and worth visiting before or after the night market, which is close by.