Grand Palace - Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok

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The Grand Palace consists of several buildings with different styles of architecture, surrounded by walls more than a mile long. Inside, it contains some of the finest examples of Buddhist sculpture, architecture, painting, and decorative craft in Thailand.
The Grand Palace is not just a palace, but also includes Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred temple of Thailand.

The palace was originally built together with the establishment of Bangkok by King Rama I and has been expanded ever since. It covers a wide range of architectural styles, ranging from the pure Ayutthayan style of the temples to a blend of Thai and Western styles for later structures.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha actually consists of a series of courtyards full of chedis and buildings all in different sizes and colours. Most of them have impressive architecture and much devotion has been given to the decoration. Some buildings are in gold, and others beautifully decorated with thousands of colored glass pieces, or broken porcelain.

One is overwhelmed by the glittering gold, and colourful, intricate mosaics on these impressive buildings. In fact, it is too much to take in all at once, so make sure you bring your camera to record every detail, for viewing at a later time.

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In Thailand the National Anthem & King are uphold in highest esteem. Every visitors are expected to do the same. Even one does not follow they demand you to it. Therefore its important that you follow their culture to avoid unnecessary incident.
When you plan to visit the Grand Palace, remember to wear decently, for man-long pants & sleeve with collar shirt, lady- blouse with sleeve (no bare-back), pants or knee length skirt(no mini skirt). These are must wear when visiting the Grand Palace.
There are 35 places of interest in the Grand Palace.
1). The Grand Palace - established in 1782 it consist of Royal Residence, Throne Halls, Government Offices, and The Famous Emerald Buddha inside the 218,000 sq meter. King Rama I ascended to the throne in the same year. The two earliest structures erected was Dusit Maha Prasat Throne & Phra Maha Monthian.
2). Emerald Buddha - The most venerated site in Thailand. The Buddha is enshrined on a golden traditional Thai-style throne made of gilded-carved wood, known as Busabok. Every year the King will change the costumes three times a year (summer, rainny season and winter). This Emerald Buddha was carved from a block of green jade. It was in 1434 when the Buddha was discovered in Chiang Rai' stupa, and it was covered with plaster after a period of worship the plaster from the nose flaked off revelling the green gem and they thought it was Emerald and thus they called it Emerald Buddha was born. Later it was taken to Lampang and remained there until King Tilok of Lannathai moved it to Chiang Mai. In 1552 the Buddha was taken to Loas by King Chaichettha of Luang Prabang son of Chiang Mai Princess and Loatian King when he was called to succeed his father's throne, and stay there for 226 years until 1778 when army command by Chao Phraya Chakri (King Rama I) captured Vientiane and bring back the Buddha to Thailand. Later King Rama I established the city of Bangkok and the Emerald was housed within the Royal Monastery.
3). The Upper Terrace - A Golden Chedi, the Mondop, a repository of Buddist sacred scripture inscribed on palm leaves. a miniature Angkor Wat order of King Rama IV (King Mongkok).
4). Phra Maha Monthian - consists of three main buildings :- Audience Hall of Amarindra Winitchai, Paisal Taksin Hall. These was build in 1785 during the reign of King Rama I. There is a Throne surmounted by nine-tiered canopy flanked by two seven tiered white umbrellas and backed by a boat shaped altar. The Paisalk Taksin Hall is where the coronation ceremony held.t side you can find the royal bedchamber.
5). The Borom Phiman Mansion - The only Western style building built by King Rama V in 1903, it served as Royal Guest House.
Overall these are the most important places in Bangkok. For anyone who visit Bangkok must allocate time for this visit, it's a must visit in Bangkok.

It's an impressive place. A must to see. We can feel a very special ambiance.
The luxury of thai history.
You can spend hours and hours to view all the details or just enjoy the entire view.

The negative point is the policy of entrance fee: Thai and foreigner don't pay the same price.

Maybe Thais not clever enough to enjoy 100% of the site? Not a friendly policy.

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Part Two of My Emerald Temple Tips with more pictures around.

This will by my tips of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, I will have a separate tips for the Grand Palace area.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located on the ground of the Royal Palace in Bangkok. It is the most revered Buddhist shrine in Thailand. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), That is why a visit to the grand palace complex includes this Temple. The main building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha. Even though it is small in size it is the most important icon for Thai people and is also claimed by the cambodians and laotians since this emerald buddha changed hands many times in the past hence Wat Preah Keo, in Phnom Penh, is considered by many modern Cambodians as its rightful resting place, whereas, Haw Phra Kaew, in Vientiane, is considered by many Lao people as the Emerald Buddha's rightful place. There are other things to see in the Emerald Buddha Complex like a model of Angkor Wat (see my separate tips), the Phra Mondop Library, the Phra Sri Rattana, Prasat Pra Tep Bidorn, assorted Kinnaree Statues (see my separate tips) and more.

The wall surrounding the temple area is painted with scenes from the Thai version of the Ramayana mythology, the Ramakian. Also originating from the Ramayana are the monkey kings and giants which surround the golden chedis. The Temple also contains a model of Angkor Wat, added by King Nangklao (Rama III), as the Khmer empire of Cambodia and the Thais share cultural and religious roots (Thailand was a vassal state of the Khymer Empire before and became the Ayutthaya empire, which ruled laos. cambodia and parts of south vietnam before the Burmese detroyed the empire in the 17th century).

The combined compound is open 8:30am to 4:00 pm everyday. Cost is 200 Baht per person. Thai nationals Enter for free.

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This will by my tips of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, I will have a separate tips for the Grand Palace area.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located on the ground of the Royal Palace in Bangkok. It is the most revered Buddhist shrine in Thailand. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), That is why a visit to the grand palace complex includes this Temple. The main building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha. Even though it is small in size it is the most important icon for Thai people and is also claimed by the cambodians and laotians since this emerald buddha changed hands many times in the past hence Wat Preah Keo, in Phnom Penh, is considered by many modern Cambodians as its rightful resting place, whereas, Haw Phra Kaew, in Vientiane, is considered by many Lao people as the Emerald Buddha's rightful place. There are other things to see in the Emerald Buddha Complex like a model of Angkor Wat (see my separate tips), the Phra Mondop Library, the Phra Sri Rattana, Prasat Pra Tep Bidorn, assorted Kinnaree Statues (see my separate tips) and more.

The wall surrounding the temple area is painted with scenes from the Thai version of the Ramayana mythology, the Ramakian. Also originating from the Ramayana are the monkey kings and giants which surround the golden chedis. The Temple also contains a model of Angkor Wat, added by King Nangklao (Rama III), as the Khmer empire of Cambodia and the Thais share cultural and religious roots (Thailand was a vassal state of the Khymer Empire before and became the Ayutthaya empire, which ruled laos. cambodia and parts of south vietnam before the Burmese detroyed the empire in the 17th century).

The combined compound is open 8:30am to 3:30 pm everyday. Cost is 200 Baht per person. Thai nationals Enter for free.

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Part two of My Grand Palace Tips with more pictures around.

This will be my things to do tips on the Grand Palace Complex, I will have a separate tip for the Wat Phra Keaw (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

The Grand Palace is the Ceremonial heart of Thailand as it was the official residence of the Kings of Thailand and Siam since the 18th century (after the collapse of the Ayuthaya Dynasty) from the Start of the Thonburi Period up to the Present Chakri Dynasty, until present King Bhumipol Adulyadej moved the royal residence to Chitralada Palace in the Dusit District, however the place is still the area for Ceremonial Purposes like the King and Queen's Birthday and other State Ceremonies and is the number one tourist destination in Bangkok.

The palace complex sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The other approaches to the palace are protected by a defensive wall of 1,900 metres in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square metres. Further out from the wall is a canal, which was also created for defensive purposes, making the area surrounding the palace an island, known as Rattanakosin.

parts of the Grand Palace:

1) Wat Phra Kaew, the temple containing the Emerald Buddha
2) Chakri Mahaprasad Hall
3) Prasat Phra Debidorn
4) Phra Sri Ratana chedi
5) The Museum, which has information on the restoration of the Grand Palace, scale models of
the Wat and Palace and numerous Buddha images
6) Bell tower
7) Dusit Hall
8) Amarinda Hall, the original residence of King Rama I and the Hall of Justice
9) Boromabiman Hall, built by King Rama VI

The combined compound is open 8:30am to 4:30 pm everyday. Cost is 200 Baht (if you are Thai, it's free), and the admission ticket includes admission to Vimanmek Mansion and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, Anantra Smakom Throne Hall and Sanam Chandra Palace, allb in the Dusit area of the city and the ticket is good for three days if you plan to visit the Mansion and Dusit Throne Halls on a separate day. The entrance to the compound is on Na Phra Lan road, on the north side.

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This will be my things to do tips on the Grand Palace Complex, I will have a separate tip for the Wat Phra Keaw (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

The Grand Palace is the Ceremonial heart of Thailand as it was the official residence of the Kings of Thailand and Siam since the 18th century (after the collapse of the Ayuthaya Dynasty) from the Start of the Thonburi Period up to the Present Chakri Dynasty, until present King Bhumipol Adulyadej moved the royal residence to Chitralada Palace in the Dusit District, however the place is still the area for Ceremonial Purposes like the King and Queen's Birthday and other State Ceremonies and is the number one tourist destination in Bangkok.

The palace complex sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The other approaches to the palace are protected by a defensive wall of 1,900 metres in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square metres. Further out from the wall is a canal, which was also created for defensive purposes, making the area surrounding the palace an island, known as Rattanakosin.

parts of the Grand Palace:

1) Wat Phra Kaew, the temple containing the Emerald Buddha
2) Chakri Mahaprasad Hall
3) Prasat Phra Debidorn
4) Phra Sri Ratana chedi
5) The Museum, which has information on the restoration of the Grand Palace, scale models of
the Wat and Palace and numerous Buddha images
6) Bell tower
7) Dusit Hall
8) Amarinda Hall, the original residence of King Rama I and the Hall of Justice
9) Boromabiman Hall, built by King Rama VI

The combined compound is open 8:30am to 4:30 pm everyday. Cost is 200 Baht (if you are Thai, it's free), and the admission ticket includes admission to Vimanmek Mansion and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, Anantra Smakom Throne Hall and Sanam Chandra Palace, allb in the Dusit area of the city and the ticket is good for three days if you plan to visit the Mansion and Dusit Throne Halls on a separate day. The entrance to the compound is on Na Phra Lan road, on the north side.

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The Angkorian Empire in the 9th century was the premiere empire of Indochina and the mini states of thailand were it's vassals then but in the 13th century, the Ayuthaya Empire supplanted the Angkorian Empire as the Premiere Empire of Indo China and the Siem Reap (the Thai Name of Siem Reap Province was Siam Nakhon Province) and Battambang Provinces of Cambodia was part of Thailand from the 14th century up to the early 19th century, as they gave up possesion of half of cambodia to the french in the early 19th century as a condtion of the British not to fight with the french for the Indo chinese lands in 1907 and the angkor wat model was commisioned by the chakri king Rama IV as part of the glory of Thai Rule then. The Angkor Wat Model is located at the middle of the many monuments erected at the Wat Phra Kew part of the Grand Palace Complex.

You must be properly dressed before being allowed to entry the temple. That means no see through clothes or bare shoulders for women and long pants and shirts with sleeves for men.....
http://talkbangkok.com/listings/1349/explore/temples/the-grand-palace

The Grand Palace is a-must-see in Bangkok. The huge palace complex consists of number of buildings is built in 218,000 m2 area. The temple was built in 1782 by King Rama 1. To go around the palace, you need at least one or two hours. The complex is huge and photogenic, and suddenly two hours passed very fast.

Interesting place to see is Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, where you can shop souvenir and famous Thai silks. We visited The Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha. His Majesty Buddha is dressed with one of three seasonal costumes; summer, rainy and winter. You will be shown the different costumes and it is good to know what season at your time of visiting.

Inside the Monastery, you are not allowed to take picture. Most visitors sit in silent, you can see monks and visitors prayer. The atmosphere is very serene and peaceful.

From the brochures, several buildings that interesting to see are: The Phra Maha Monthian Group, consisting of three halls, The Chakri Group, central throne hall, The Dusit Group, a throne hall, The Upper Terrace, consisting of four main monuments, and the Borom Phiman mansion, which was built in western style.

Admission fee is 400 THB. Open everday from 8.30 a.m. to 16.30 p.m. Tickets sold until 15.30
p.m.

If you visit the palace, please dress conservatively, covering shoulder and knee length skirt/trouser. Sarong is available for rental with deposit of 200 THB.