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Grand Palace View
Bangkok: The Grand Palace
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Temples
Bangkok: The Grand Palace
The Grand Palace complex was established in 1782. It covers an area of 218.000 square meters and is surrounded by four walls, 1,900 meters in length. It was built after King Rama I's ascension to the throne in 1782. Before this, the royal palace and center of administration had been located in Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. For various reasons, including security concerns, the new king decided to establish a new capital on the other side of the river. The new palace was designed to serve as his residence as well as the site of some administrative offices. The two earliest structures erected within the complex were the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall & the Phra Maha Monthian.
Useful Information:
Visitors to the The Grand Palace complex, or most other temples, are required to dress appropriately:
1. Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, as well as tights can not be worn as outer garments.
2. See-through shirts and blouses, as well as cullottes or quarter length trousers can not be worn.
3. Sleeveless shirts or vests can not be worn as outer garments.
4. Sandles (without ankle or heel straps) can not be worn.
5. All shirt sleeves, whether long or short, can not be rolled up.
6. Sweat shirts and sweat pants, wind-cheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers can not be worn.
The entry fee is 200 Baht, you will get 3 tickets.
1. The yellow part is for the Grand Palace and is valid only on the day of purchase.( A guide book will be given to each visitor at the entrance to the temple.)
2. The blue part is for the Vimanmek Mansion Museum ( The world's largest golden teakwood mansion )
This part of the ticket is valid for 30 days from the day of purchase. The Vimanmek Mansion Museum is
located at Suan Phuttan Garden on Ratchawithi Road in the Dusit District of Bangkok, and may be reached by
bus number 70, departing from outside the Grand Palace, or by taxi.
(Note : Entry to Vimanmek Museum will not be permitted without the blue part of the ticket, which may
also be purchased separately, on a daily basis, at the museum for 50 Baht.)
3. The white ticket is for The Royal Thai Decoration and Coin Pavilion, which is on the right hand side before the entrance to the temple.
Open everyday 9:30 a.m to 3:15
If you want to see everything at the Grand Palace it's probably going to take you 2 days. It truly is an really amazing place.
Other temples worth visiting in Bangkok include the Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit) on Sri Ayuthaya Road near the Dusit Zoo. This temple uses Italian marble throughout.
Wat Po, just south of the Grand Palace, is famous for the traditional Thai massage school. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing massage as they listen to temple bells tinkling in the wind. Be warned, though. The masseurs are very thorough and you may get up afterwards feeling like a piece of jelly!
Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), across the river from Wat Po, can be reached by river ferry. The temple and stupas are covered with various types of broken pottery, including Chinese and Delft blue. Statues on the grounds depict early European visitors. The best time to view the temple is early in the morning, or around sunset. To get the best photographs, stay on the Bangkok side of the river at dusk.
There are thousands of temples all over the country. After the first few you will probably feel that you have seen them all. But keep an open mind. There are always surprises in store, and you never know what you will see if you go exploring. See if you can find the crocodile temple in Chinatown, for example. It has a huge crocodile penned up in the grounds. Or see if you can find the dancing temple maidens on Ploenchit Road.
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