I’m surprised that many tourists didn’t visit The Grand Palace (Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang) when they came to Bangkok. A few mothers left comments telling me that they didn’t go there on their trips here. I’ve always thought that this spectacular place is great for photography and rich with Thai architecture and history, so I’m rather surprised that they missed it. I’ve been here many years ago, but last Saturday, we brought our kids to the Grand Palace for the first time.
Please take note that you have to be properly dressed to visit this palace as stated here:
NOTE: There is a strict dress code for visiting the Grand Palace. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is Thailand’s most sacred site. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves — no tank tops. If you’re wearing sandals or flip-flops you must wear socks (in other words, no bare feet.) Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, bare shoulders, etc. If you show up at the front gate improperly dressed, there is a booth near the entry that can provide clothes to cover you up properly. You must leave your passport or credit card as security.
Hours: The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30 to 3:30, unless its being used for a state function. Be careful of touts working outside the palace area who tell you its closed, and suggest their own guided tour instead. Their ‘tour’ will be to several shops where they get commissions on your purchases. Free guided tours in English are available at 10:00, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:00. You can also rent an audio guide for 100 Baht (2.94 USD) plus passport or credit card to secure return.
While the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace grounds are open every day when not being used for state functions, the audience halls in the Grand Palace are closed on weekends. You can only gain entrance to see the magnificent thrones on weekdays. The Royal Pantheon in Temple of the Emerald Buddha is only open one day a year, on 6 April.
There is a big temple here called Wat Phra Kaew with Emerald Buddha. I didn’t snap a good photo of the buddha because camera is not allowed in the temple. However, I got a few nice shots of this place…
The pathway towards the entrance for tourists.
Phra Sri Ratana chedi
The paintings
Mini Angkor Wat
Chakri Mahaprasad Hall
We went there by car, but next time, I hope to go there by Chao Phraya River so that I can snap a photo of the palace from the river view. It will surely be nice. I don’t quite like to walk along the pathway opposite the palace because of some beggars. There are not many, but I just don’t like the sight. But at least there are not addicts on the street, or maybe they are all going through drug treatment at drug treatment center already? LOL!
But anyway, my kids enjoyed feeding the pigeons here.
Lots of pigeons.