Bangkok: Rattanakosin Reverine Island
Rattanakosin,an inner-city riverine island, is the historical heart of Bangkok. It is one of the most enchanting cities that many traveller from around the world wish to explore. Many historically significant structures are located here.
Rattanakosin Island Map
The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo
Being the city landmarks, these two accompanying attractions serve to be the first place on any visitor's itinerary.
The grand palace, founded in 1782, consists of several buildings with highly decorated architectural details.
Details of The Grand Palace
The Royal Chapel,Wat Phra Kaeo,houses the Emerld Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand.
Details of Wat Phra Kaeo
The complex is open daily from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. Proper dress is required.
Sanam Luang
The Royal Field
This huge public ground is in front of the Grand Palace. Special activities or events such as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in May, King’s Birthday celebration in December and the New Year Festival ordinarily take place here.
At the northern end of Sanam Luang, opposite the Royal Hotel is a small statue of house of the Goddess of the Earth, built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) to provide public drinking water.
Sanam Luang is edged by several noteworthy institutions:The City Pillar Shrine, National Museum, National Theatre and The National Gallery.
Lak Muang
The City Pillar Shrine
Located at the southeast corner of Sanam Luang, this graceful templelike structured building houses "Lak Muang" the first stone pillar of the city initiated by King Rama I, the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty, as the foundation stone for his new capital city of Bangkok. Lak Muang is believed by many people to have the power of granting wishes.
The National Museum
Within walking distance from the Grand Palace to the north, across Sanam Luang, is one of the largest and comprehensive museums in Southeast Asia. The National Museum houses over one thousand artifacts ranging from neolithic times to the present Bangkok period. The complex, also founded in 1782, consists of several old but beautiful buildings of colourful Thai architectural design.
The Museum is open everyday from 9 am to 4 pm except Mondays, Tuesdays and puhlic holidays.
Guided tours are provided in the mornings at 9.30 am.The tours are conducted in various languages.
Click here for details.
The National Theatre
It is situated on Na Phra That Road next to the National Museum. Classical Thai dramas and other types of international arts are periodically staged here.
Current programmes can be checked out by telephoning the theatre on weekdays between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm. Special exhibition shows of classical Thai dance and music are held on the last Friday and Saturday of each month. Contact the theatre for more information.
The National Gallery
Situated on Chao Fa Road opposite the National Theatre. The National Gallery compiles and displays both classical and temporary arts of renowned Thai artists for those who are interested in art appreciation or study. His Majesty the King’s oil paintings are also exhibited to be appreciated by the public.
The gallery is open everyday from 9 am to 4 pm except Mondays, Tuesdays and publicholidays.
Wat Pho
The Temple of The Reclining Buddha
This worldwide famous temple is located right next to the Grand Palace to the south. It is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho houses the gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha image. This unique image is 49 meters long and 12 metres high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles. Wat Pho is also regarded as the first centre of public edu- cation and is sometimes called "Thailand’s First University"
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Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn
Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun can be reached either by Arun Amarin Road or by crossing the river by boat from Tha Tien Pier, near Wat Pho. The most attractive structure of this temple is the 79-metre-high pagoda or “Phra Prang? Wat Arun was renovated during the brief Thonburi period to be the Royal Chapel of King Taksin. Despite the meaning of its name that is “The Temple of Dawn? the most beautiful view of it is from the Bangkok side of the river at sunset.
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Viman Mek Mansion & Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall
Viman Mek Mansion including the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall is located behind the National Assembly. Here, visitors can view such beautiful handicrafts as niellowares, Thai silk with various unique designs, and Liphao?basketry like beautiful trays and handbags studded with jewels in different designs such as green beetles.
Details
Wat Benchamabophit
The Marble Temple
The Marble Temple is situated on Si Ayutthaya Road near Chitralada Palace. The temple is well-known because its main building was made of marble during the reign of King Rama V. The best time to visit the temple is the early hours in the morning when Buddhist monks are chanting inside the chapel. The interior of the main building is magnificently decorated with exposed wooden beams of lacquer and gold plate. A large collection of Bronze Buddhas is lined up against the walls of the spacious inner courtyard.
The main building is open to vistors until 5.00 pm. There is an admission charge of 10 baht.
Wat Suthat & The Giant Swing
Wat Suthat is featured as Bangkok’s tallest Wiharn and houses a 14th century Buddha statue from the Sukhothai period, surrounded by rather surreal depictions of the Buddha’s last 24 lives. The courtyard is filled with odded statues of scholars and sailors, brought as ballast in rice boats returning from China, while the doors of the Wat have been carved by King Rama II.
In front of the Temple is the famous Giant Swing.In an annual ceremony to celebrate the rice harvest that was still observed just before World War II, men used to ride on the Giant Swing and try to grab a bag of siver coins attached to a pole; only the teak arch remains.
Many shop surrounding Wat Suthat stock a very comprehensive rage of Buddhist ecclesiastic supplies.
Wat Saket
The Golden Mount
Wat Saket is an undistinguished temple except for the Golden Mountain or Phu Khao Thong, on the west side of the grounds. The steep climb tip to the Golden Mountain puts everything back in perspective and offers views over Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it.The resulting mud-and-brick hill was left to sprout weeds until King Rama IV built a small Chedi on its crest.King Rama V later added to the structure and housed a Buddha relic from India in the Chedi. The concrete walls were added during World War II to prevent the hill from eroding.
Every November a large festival, held on the ground of Wat Saket, includes a candle light procession up the Golden Mountain.
