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PALACES - MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS
- Grand Palace |
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พระบรมมหาราชวัง |
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The Grand Palace located in the old city of Bangkok on the banks
of the Chao Phraya river is one of the must see sites of
Thailand. This complex is one of the most famous landmarks of
the country and offers spectacular buildings and sacred sites.
The Grand Palace is a magnificent complex of buildings of great
significance. Construction of the complex began in 1782 when
King Rama I decided to move the capital of Thailand from
Thonburi to an area known as Rattanakosin island on the East
side of the Chao Phraya river.
The complex is surrounded
by 1,900 meters long walls and houses among others Royal
residences, the throne halls and the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha. It housed the center of government and the Royal Court
and became the center of the Kingdom.
The Grand Palace
served as the official residence of Thai Kings until the reign
of King Chulalongkorn at the end of the 19th century.
Today
the Palace is used for a number of Royal rituals, state banquets
and other official functions. Some parts of the Palace like the
Inner Court are not open to the public.
Dusit Maha Prasat
Throne Hall & Borom Phiman Mansion
The two oldest buildings
are the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall and the Phra Maha
Monthian. The main function of the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall
built by King Rama I is to host the lying in state ceremony for
Kings, Queens and members of the Royal Family. During this
ceremony a large number of people can pay their respects to the
deceased.
One of the most recent buildings is the Borom
Phiman Mansion which was built early 20th century by King Rama
V. This building is build in western style and was build as a
residence for future Kings.
The Wat Phra Kaew or “Temple
of the Emerald Buddha” on the grounds of the Grand Palace is one
of Thailand’s most sacred places. The small Buddha image is
believed to be more than 2000 years old and was created in
India. Since then it was moved a number of times and in 1434 it
was re-discovered in a temple in Chiang Rai in Northern
Thailand.
Although people back then believed the Buddha
to be made from emerald, it is actually made from green jade.
With the changing of the seasons (summer, rainy season and cool
season), the robes of the Emerald Buddha are changed by HM the
King of Thailand.
The walls of the Hall are covered with
mural paintings depicting a number of events in the Life of the
Lord Buddha, including birth, death and Enlightenment.
The Emerald Buddha image in the Wat Phra Kaew temple on the
grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok
Emerald Buddha in the
Palace temple
The surrounding galleries
The Royal
Monastery is surrounded by walls covered with beautiful and very
detailed paintings of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the
Indian epic Ramayana. Large parts of the Ramakien were written
by King Rama I and King Rama II. Many of the paintings tell
scenes about the battle between good and evil. They were first
created when the Palace was built in the 18th century and since
then restored several times.
Dress code
Since this is
a sacred place, please follow the dress code. This means no
short pants, no shirts without sleeves, no bare feet. As in any
temple in Thailand, please take off your shoes. Near the
entrance of the Palace complex is a booth where proper clothes
are provided if needed.
Although photo and video
equipment is allowed in most of the Grand Palace, inside the Wat
Phra Kaew temple they are not.
Grand Palace Bangkok
brochure
On entering the Grand Palace you will receive a
brochure with details about the complex including a map.
However, the layout of the complex is such that the route
through is pretty much fixed. |
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Province |
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Bangkok |
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western side of Chatuchak Park |
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District |
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Phra Nakhon |
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City |
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Phra
Borom Maha Ratchawang |
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Official Web: |
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Genre |
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Palaces-Monuments and Memorials |
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Opening time |
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n/a |
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Entry fee |
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Entrance fee |
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GPS : |
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13.75018 N |
100.49127 E |
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