Monday, March 11, 2019

The Grand Palace: The royal residence of Bangkok

The Grand PalaceThe Grand Palace is full of tourists and rightly so. The architecture is impressive, the gardens are beautiful and is home to one of Thailand's most remarkable temples. Here you will find everything you need to know about the Grand Palace before visiting these historic sites.


History

The construction of the palace began in 1782. King Rama I then had power and the palace was considered completed at the end of the nineteenth century. King Rama I was the founder of the Chakri dynasty and thought he also deserved a new royal palace. Construction started at the beginning. From 1782 to 1925, the palace housed the royalties of the country. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. Not all countries are open to the public. However, there is still a lot to see in these areas. Over the past 200 years, various leaders have built on the magnificent palace until we finally see what it is today. The Grand Palace serves mainly as a tourist attraction and is sometimes used for ceremonial purposes, but no member of the royal family has lived there since 1925.


Construction

The chosen location of the Grand Palace was anything but random. It is very close to Bangkok's artery, the Chao Phraya River, which facilitates defense against possible invasions. A large Chinese community lived there when King Rama decided that the location was ideal for the Grand Palace. They were forced to move to what is now Chinatown, located on the outskirts of the city.


The palace gardens

The Grand Palace Park consists of three different zones or courses. There are the domestic, middle and external courts. You will probably spend most of your time in the outdoor courtyard, where you will find buildings open to the public, as well as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You will notice that a large part of the palace is made up of traditional Thai architecture, while others are inspired by the European Renaissance era and you often see a combination of both. There are more than 100 buildings on the ground.


The Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Also known as Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha remains one of the main reasons why visitors flock to the Grand Palace. The temple is located in the ordinance room and is considered one of Thailand's most important temples.

Dress code
Please note that there is a strict dress code that must be followed to enter the Grand Palace. Prohibited clothing includes shorts, miniskirts, tight pants, transparent clothing, sleeveless tops, sandals (except heels), sweatshirts, sweatpants and pajamas. Even if you have a scarf to cover your shoulders, it is likely that a security guard will not let you in. It is better to be dressed and drink plenty of water to avoid overheating than to be rejected at the entrance of the Grand Palais. .


Busy with tourists

This area of ​​Bangkok is incredibly popular with tourists and should therefore be approached with a little sensitivity. If someone approaches you incredibly friendly and offers to drive you to the area at a fixed price, leave. If anyone insists that the Grand Palace be closed, but likes to transfer it to another, such as a beautiful temple, let it go politely. This area is very beautiful, but also very busy and many people are ready to use it.


How to get there

The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi, simply because all drivers know where the Grand Palace is. Do not enter a taxi that does not want to use the meter because it is legally required to use it. You can also take the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station and take the Chao Phraya River Express boat to Maharaj Pier. It is a short walk from the main entrance. There is an entry fee of 500-15 (approximately $ 15). The temple is open every day from 8.30am. at 15:30, be sure to arrive early to have time to explore.

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