BANGKOK'S GRAND PALACE
The grounds at Bangkok’s Grand Palace
I have seen a few palaces in my lifetime. From Buckingham Palace in London (outside the gates, obviously) to the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Potala in Lhasa, the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and this one, The Grand Palace in Bangkok. The number one destination to see when in Bangkok, I find the palace grounds very interesting as there is always something going on.
Thailand had many kings over it’s illustrious history and one of the most celebrated was King Rama 1 who started the Chakri dynasty and is best known for repelling the last Burmese attack on Siam in 1786 (the actual king today is King Rama X). Rama 1 was also known for establishing Bangkok as the new capital and selecting the grounds of the new royal palace on the shores of the Chao Phraya River. The king’s ambition was to build a palace along the lines of previous capital cities, like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, but in a more grandiose style, to symbolize the start of the Chakri dynasty. The whole palace complex is surrounded by walls and was once a self-sufficient “city within a city” and became the royal residence from 1782 until 1946 when the royal family moved to a different area of the city, in Dusit.
The palace grounds include many buildings with specific use and most were rebuilt or modified over the years. Interestingly, several buildings have a western architecture influence showing Thailand’s interest in western culture and arts. Besides the kings and royal families, the most well-known guest here was Anna Leonowens, who was the tutor to the son of King Rama IV and became the central subject of the Broadway musical and movies “The King and I”. There are still some active government buildings such as the Ministry of Finance and the Grand Palace is still used for state ceremonies and funerals.
Some of the areas I find amazing to see are the Ramakien Gallery, Thailand most extensive depiction of the Ramakien, Thailand’s version of the Indian epic tale of Ramayana, the story of the triumph of good over evil. There are 178 panels originally painted in the late 18th century and now only being restored to their original glory. The level of detail of each scene is mind boggling. Another interesting area is in the heart of the Grand Palace grounds. Wat Phra Kaeo, Thailand’s holiest temple, is home to the country’s most venerated image, the Emerald Buddha. The buddha statue is not very big, only 2 feet tall or so, made of jadeite and sits on top of a giant altar. Only the king is allowed close to the statue. It was apparently carved in northern Thailand in the 14th century and moved from kingdom to kingdom in the north until Lao invaders took it and moved it to Luang Prabang and then to the capital of Vientiane where it stayed until 1765. The Thais were not one to forget and when a war erupted between Laos and Thailand the winning General Chakri (who later became King Rama 1) brought the statue back to Bangkok. This is a subject still sore with the Lao people and mention the Emerald Buddha to any Lao and the answer is always hoping that one day the statue will come back home. Fat chance say the Thais.
Other areas are the Throne Hall still used for the annual coronation day celebrations, the Inner Palace closed to the public once used by women of the royal family and the Audience Chamber. I find the best times to visit the palace is first thing in the morning when crowds are less and we have also been able to arrange to visit after hours on 2 special occasions, the most unforgettable was at night, but that’s another story.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
The world-famous energy drink Red Bull was made in Bangkok by Chaleo Yoovidhya in 1976.
BEST MONTH TO VISIT:
Between November and April
Longitude 80 offers a superb Thailand expedition including experiences with wilderness camp, coastal resorts and an awesome 3 day adventure in Bangkok. Contact us if you want to start planning your Thailand adventure for 2022 or 2023.
