On the 7th 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. |
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.
Go back to Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok Thailand
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