The Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. It is a "potent religio-political symbol and the palladium of Thai society". It is located in the historic centre of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), within the precincts of the Grand Palace.A wat (derived from the [P li] word vatthu- r ma) is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" (Khmer: , Thai: , sometimes rendered "vat" when referring to Laos) means "school".Strictly speaking a wat is a Buddhist sacred precinct with monks' quarters, the temple proper, an edifice housing a large image of Buddha, and a structure for lessons.