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 | Bangkok Grand Palace / Wat Phra Kaew Reviews | Tips 431 - 440 of 474 |  |
This morning we visited Thailand?s most holy Buddhist site, Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha. Located right on the Mae Nam Chao Phraya River, the Wat is apart of the Grand Palace enclosure that was constructed in 1782. The complex includes several stupas and pagodas set on multi-leveled platforms with bonsai trees, Buddha statues, fountains, enormous painted dragon-like devils, and large porcelain bowls with lotus flowers all enclosed in an inner wall that is painted with Thai mythical stories with figures in gold leaf. The temple structures, completely adorned in tile and mirrors, seemingly float over the white marble pavement. The gold stupa reaching for the sky is unbearable to look at with the sun?s strength. Even with the masses of people who all need to get their photo with the gold devils with the frightening faces, this place seems peaceful. Now that I have learned from my buddy Rob and brother Will about the difficulty of the art of bonsai, I can truly appreciate these little trees. There must be twice as many here than in the D.C. Arboretum. I digress . . . The whole site focuses on one tiny sitting Buddha that sits on a massive throne inside the main chapel.
Legend oozes out of the Emerald Buddha. It was first discovered in Chain Rai in the north of Thailand?s Golden Triangle in 1434. The image was covered in plaster and thought valueless until an abbot noticed a green interior after a piece of plaster cracked off. The abbot thought the Buddha image was emerald, hence the name, but it is actually jade. After a break in the succession of kings, the Buddha was enshrined in Luang Prabang, Laos until 226 years later when the Thai army recovered the Buddha for Thailand. It now rests at Wat Phrae Kaew. Leave a Comment
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This place is also called the temple of the emerald budha. It's beautiful to see. is has a great architecture with gleaming stupas. Within the same grounds u find The grand palace. This is the former royal residence. This is defenitely also a must see in Bangkok. Today the Grand Palace is used by the kind only for certain ceremonial occasions. When u will vist this place dress modestly. So clothes to your elbows and knees Leave a Comment
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This royal palace and temple complex is absolutely impressive. An absolute highlight! You will see one beautifull temple after another. Thailands most sacred Buddha the emerald Buddha is kept here.
You can even take a look at it, but remember: Do not fotograph inside, take of your shoes and be dressed properly. Please be respectfull to the religeous people praying inside.
You can easy spend half a day here. Leave a Comment
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This si the temple by night!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Please visit my travelogue for more pictures and information Leave a Comment
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Those cheerful looking, bigger than life statues found guarding the gates of the compound are known as Yakshas. Placed at the beginning of the 18th century, they are said to protect the Emeald Buddha from evil spirits - interesting as the yakshas represent characters from the Ramakien - including, in the case of the green yaksha, the demon king Tosakan. Leave a Comment
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Three days is just about enough time to see what you need to see. I would start with the Grand Palace tour and the Emerald Buddha. Be careful about touters telling you that the Palace is closed. You can check with your hotel ahead of time and they should be able to tell you if it is or not. Touters will try to divert you so that they can get you in at a cost. Also you should be properly dressed to go into the Grand Palace area. If you are dressed in shorts you will be denied access. Dress very conservatively. Across the river is Temple of the Dawn or Wat Arun. You will be on the near side of the river, get across the street to the river, there are access point all along the street and you can catch a water taxi to the temple. From there, back across the river again, you could catch Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha. This might be a good time of the day to get a massage. Wat Pho is the Thai Massage school and thousands of people go there for massages. Also in this same area is China Town. I would however suggest that you use at least half day to do this as if you are even a bit adventurous it'll take you half a day to all day to go through and see most of China Town. Lots of back alleys and shops to see if you take you time and look, as well as some great restuarants and Dim Sum.
I would also suggest the Sunday market but you will not be there on the weekend when it is open. Again, all of these places are in the same general area of the river area.If you have more time I would also try to take in one of the floating markets on the river. It is early in the morning and they can be a lot of fun. It also gives you a look of how old Bangkok used to be. Many or most of Bangkok's roads were canals or klongs, and people got around on boats and long tailed boats. The Thia's conducted business from their boats, hence the floating market. You can also get some great food from the vendors in their boats. My favorite is the noodle soups or for breakfast the rice soups. I usually go just for the food!
Enjoy and have fun!
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To see the whole place you may need 4 to 5 hours.
People enter into the Wat Phra Kaew compound, and then the Royal Grand Palace compound, then exiting without returning back.
Checkout the inside of the temples and monuments, both at Wat Phra Keaw and the Grand Palace.
You can take pictures everywhere except inside the buildings.
Go as early as possible, especially if you want to take lotsa pictures, since the Bangkok sun does allow for very good images at midday.
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To the left you can see a Kinaree. Therse half human, half bird, male and female figures can be found on the upper terrace. Also, several statues in the temple area resemble figures from from the Thai version of the Ramayana mythology, the Ramakian. These are the monkey kings which surround the golden chedi. Likely, these figures are meant to scare away evil spirits.
Oh yeah. Some goof in the middle is trying to scare away spirits too. (and girls, children, sane people, etc.) Leave a Comment
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Touring the Grand Palace was amazing. The buildings are beautiful and you get to see The Emerald Buddha, which is the most sacred Buddha for Thai Buddhists. Leave a Comment
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