The Grand Palace of Thailand is the pride of the Thai people and one of the most popular tourist destinations, offering visitors unforgettable experiences in the country’s traditional architecture, art and culture.
General Information
In 1782, after overthrowing Taksin, King Rama I built Chakri and moved the royal residence from the royal palace in Thonburi to Rattanakosin. After completing the palace, he held his coronation ceremony in 1785. After that, Thai kings held their coronations at this building. Each time a king ascended the throne, they continued to build more buildings, contributing to the impressive Grand Palace as it is today.
The Thai Royal Palace is a complex architectural style, combining traditional Chinese and Thai features with the modern features of the Renaissance period. Although today this palace is no longer the residence of the Thai Royal Family, it is used to hold royal ceremonies and receive distinguished guests of the king or the state, including the coronation of the king. Many Thais believe that anyone who visits the temple in the palace where the jade Buddha statue is located will receive blessings. In addition, the palace is also where the remains of kings and senior members of the royal family are placed before being cremated.
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The Grand Palace at night
Things to Do in the Grand Palace
Admire Thailand’s Impressive Temple Architecture
The Grand Palace of Thailand was built in 1782 under the reign of King Rama I. Therefore, this building possesses an ancient but extremely luxurious architectural style, reflecting the spirit of Thai culture at present. When admiring the stupas at the Royal Palace of Thailand, you can feel the characteristics of Thai culture in the impressive pagoda architecture. However, the Royal Palace area of Thailand still has many regulations. Therefore, tourists have not been able to fully explore the above locations.
the impressive architecture of the palace
Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Wat Phra Kaew is the most important temple in Thailand. The Royal Temple covers an area of 945,000 m², including more than 100 high-rise buildings and is the only temple system without monks. The entire architecture of the Jade Buddha Temple is very large and majestic, made of sparkling gold and jade. The architecture and art of this temple are praised as precious art in terms of painting, sculpture and architecture of Thai Buddhism. In the temple, the four sides are surrounded by a 1 km long mural corridor, including 178 beautiful colorful paintings. Outside the temple gates are the half-human, half-bird statues of Tantima and Karine standing guard. Around the shrines are the statues of the Garuda bird standing with its chest out to protect.
The temple is famous not only for the beauty of its many architectural styles, but also for the most sacred jade Buddha statue among all Buddha statues in the kingdom of Thailand, a rare national treasure in the world. It is believed that the jade Buddha statue brings good luck and prosperity to the country.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Visit the Reception Hall of the Palace
The hall is an impressive architectural style with carvings and decorations that exude luxury and opulence. This is the place used for many important ceremonies and events of the Thai Royal Family. You can admire the beauty of an ancient throne that has been reused by many generations of Thai kings.
Reception Hall of the Palace
Discover the Magnificence of Chakri Palace
This palace was built in 1878 with magnificent beauty. The full name of this palace is Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat, which means “seat of Chakris”. The structure of the palace consists of three floors with three beautiful towers on the roof, which are typical of Thai architecture with green and orange tiles. The lower part of this building has a breadth of European architecture with bold French and Italian artistic lines. You can find the throne room in the palace. This is where many important royal events and traditional Thai ceremonies are held, reflecting the subtle blend of culture and history of the country. Currently, part of the palace is still used for royal ceremonies, but other areas are open to the public, helping visitors learn more about Thailand’s unique royal culture.
Chakri Palace
Admire the Beautiful Mural System
The murals in the Grand Palace, especially those in the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) area, are beautiful works of art and carry with them the cultural and historical values of Thailand. The paintings depict gods, heroes and mythological figures, while some depict historical events, royal activities and scenes of daily life of Thai people throughout the ages. The murals here are not only artistic beauty but also cultural symbols, expressing the pride and quintessence of the Thai people, giving visitors an insight into the unique civilization and heritage of this country.
mural system in the grand palace
Learn About the Royal Palace at Phra Mondop Library
The Phra Mondop Library, built by King Rama I in 1789, is a major attraction within the Grand Palace. It houses precious royal documents, including the earliest collection of Buddhist texts (the Tripitaka). Outside the library are a series of monuments honoring the kings of the Chakri dynasty cast in pure silver.
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Phra Mondop Library
Opening Time and Ticket Cost
Address: Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Opening hours: daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with ticket sales ending at 3:30 PM.
Entrance fee:
- For local people: Thai people are free to enter the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, just show ID card at the gate.
- For foreign visitors: The entrance fee is 500 Thai Baht per person, which includes access to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles.
Please note that the palace may close during royal ceremonies, so check the official schedule before your visit through the official website.
How to Get There
Currently, the Grand Palace is a cultural destination that many tourists visit the most in Thailand. The way to the Royal Palace of Thailand is not too difficult to travel, you can choose one of the following ways:
By bus
This is the most ideal means of transportation to save costs. There are many bus routes to the palace in the city. The bus routes to the Royal Palace will be: 01, 09, 03, 39, 43, 30, 32, 44, 53, 47, 64, 53, 91, 80, 82, 501, 503, 508, 512. You can ask the ticket seller for the best instructions when traveling.
By taxi
Taxi is both fast and convenient, you can catch a taxi on almost every route in Bangkok. However, you may face traffic jams when participating in road traffic in this city. Taxi fares will also be higher, depending on the location of the taxi. Visitors should pay attention to whether the meter is on or not to avoid being “ripped off”.
By boat and train
In Thailand, means of transport such as trains are chosen quite a lot because they save time and avoid traffic jams in Bangkok. You can buy a ticket to Saphan Takin station and then take a boat on the Chao Phraya River to Tha Chang Wang Luang Pier. Walk a little further to see the entrance, the boat ticket is quite cheap at only 15 Baht.
BTS in Bangkok
Travel Tips When Visiting the Grand Palace
To make your visit to the Grand Palace of Thailand more complete and avoid unpleasant things, you need to note the following tips:
- Choose polite and elegant clothes when visiting the Royal Palace of Thailand. Do not choose revealing or tight-fitting clothes. If you accidentally wear inappropriate clothes, you can rent a sarong at the gate for about 200 Baht. The rental fee will be refunded when you return the clothes.
- The ideal time is during the dry season from November to February when it is the dry season, the weather is cool and there is not much rain, suitable for sightseeing activities. However, this is also the peak season in Thailand so the number of tourists may be crowded.
- On important occasions such as grand ceremonies and diplomatic events, the Royal Palace of Thailand may change its opening and closing hours.
- This is a quite crowded tourist attraction, so you need to pay close attention to your belongings to avoid thief and loss.
The Grand Palace in Thailand is a breathtaking blend of history, spirituality, and architectural beauty that offers visitors a deep connection to Thai culture and heritage. A visit to this magnificent palace promises an unforgettable experience and insight into the cultural heart of Thailand. Don’t hesitate to reach us to plan your holiday to Bangkok! Our experts are always ready to help you tailor your unforgettable trip through Indochina.
