A beauty of it’s own, the Grand Palace in Bangkok is a tourist attraction. The place is magnificent, each building of it’s own unique element using tiles, gold and the patterns embedded on buildings is breath taking.
The Grand Palace has an area of 218,400 sq. metres and is surrounded by walls built in 1782. The length of the four walls is 1,900 metres. Within these walls are situated government offices and the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha besides the royal residences.
When Siam restored law and order after the fall of Ayutthaya the monarch lived in Thonburi on the west side of the river. Rama I, on ascending the throne, moved the centre of administration to this side of the Chao Phraya; and, after erecting public monuments such as fortifications and monasteries, built a palace to serve not only as his residence but also his offices–the various ministries, only one of which remains in the palace walls.
This palace came to be known as the Grand Palace, in which the earliest edifices contemporary with the foundation of Bangkok were the two groups of residences named the Dusit Maha Prasat and the Phra Maha Monthian.
A point to take note when visiting, ensure your attire is decent (no shorts, legs must be fully covered), however there’s sarong sold outside or for rental as well. Do bring along umbrella as it’s rather sunny and hot. There isn’t any train station nearby, the recommended mode of transport is via taxi however be warned to only get into a meter taxi. There’s alot of fake tourist guide lurking outside the palace informing tourist that the Grand Place is closed for prayers and so forth, do not believe them and just get to the main entrance to purchase your tickets from authorized counter in the Grand Place itself.
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