Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace

On the 7^th day of my backpacking trip, I decided to visit the famous temples at Bangkok. My first stop was the Grand Palace which share grounds with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or locally called as Wat Phra Kaew.

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 400 Baht

Open every day except during special occasions

How to get there:

The most comfortable as well as the cheapest way to get there is through the Chao Phraya River Express. Get off at N. Pier 10 (Ta Chang) and walk to the gate of Grand Palace where Wat Phra Kaew is located.

From Ta Chang Pier, the gate of Grand Palace is just a hundred or so meters away. You can immediately spot the entrance. You just have to look for the busiest and most crowded area/wall/fence of the grand palace. The gate is named Viseschaisri Gate, that’s according to the pamphlet of grand palace given upon purchasing the ticket.

There are two guards posted at the entrance, please be reminded that tickets are not yet required at this point. Scammers are prevalent here, so beware because they will try to con you in any way possible (but if you’re a Filipino or you came from a race with the same look as the Thais, you’re safe. LOL) One of the most famous trick they’ll tell you is that the Grand Palace is close for the day.

Upon entering the gate, two grand palace personnel are assigned to check for the appropriateness of your attire. Lucky for me, I was wearing khaki pants, T-shirt and a pair of rubber shoes. It is common knowledge that when you are visiting sacred temples at Thailand and other countries as well, you need to look the part. Hey, this is where they perform some of their sacred activities and you should respect whatever customs they have. Always remember that you’re just a visitor, so be polite and follow the rules.

A strict dress code is followed here. 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, no bare feet. Women must be similarly dressed, they must wear at least knee-length skirt, pants or longer, and shirts that covers shoulders. No see-through clothes and bare shoulders.

If you are really not sure of the proper dress code, there is a booth at the right side of the palace upon entering the gates. The two grand palace personnel will direct you there. Apparently the sarong rental is free. You just have to leave a deposit of 200 Baht.  

The view at the entrance is already stunning and magnificent. Here is a sample pic:

You can still catch the grandeur of Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew without paying the admission fee! Right here.

From the entrance walk straight for another 500 meters to reach the ticketing booth. The ticket cost 400 baht and includes admission to the Vimanmek Mansion Museum and Arts of the Kingdom Exhibition, both of which are valid for 7 days from the date of purchase. From the ticketing booth, turn right and walk straight to the entrance where there are guards handing out informative pamphlets and checking admission tickets.

The tour starts with the beautiful and intricate designs of the royal monastery of the emerald Buddha. Coming from the Philippines where Buddhism is relatively minor religion and ancient temples are scarce, I was really in awe being up close with the temples and Buddha images. Scattered around the terrace are statues of elephants and mythical beings.

Interesting Fact: The Emerald Buddha is in fact carved from a block of green jade and was first discovered in 1434 in a stupa in Chiang Rai. At that time the image was covered with plaster and was thought to be an ordinary Buddha image. Later, however, the abbot who had found the image noticed that the plaster on the nose had flaked off, revealing the green stone underneath. The abbot initially thought that the stone was emerald and this the legend of the Emerald Buddha image began. (Source: the Grand Palace pamphlet)

After an hour of lingering at the Wat Phra Kaew complex and immersing on the Thai designs of the temples, I went on to the European inspired design of Grand Palace. The Grand Palace is currently used only for occasional ceremonial purposes and is no longer the royal residence. 

The main hall!

The main structure is called the Chakri Maha Prasat (Central Throne Hall and the two wings). It now serves as the reception of foreign ambassadors on the occasion of the presentation of credentials, and for state banquets in honor of visiting Heads of State.

Being the most famous landmark of Bangkok, Thailand, I would really recommend Grand Palace as a must see sight when you visit Bangkok. I would love to stay and marvel at the amazing scenery of the Grand Palace but I felt really hungry and thirsty from the tour. So I decided to exit and found my way to Ta Chang Pier where there are lots of eateries to choose from.

Go back to Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok Thailand