A must-see for travelers to Bangkok is The Grand Palace and Wat Pho (sometimes called Wat Po). While we’d toured both sites several times, with new travelers to SE Asia in tow, we headed back to enjoy the stunning opulence of this large temple structure.
There is nothing “new” per se at The Grand Palace, of course, as a religious temple of great significance, but we did find a new underground entry area where tickets are purchased and lead to the actual entrance into the site. These two underground pedestrian tunnels opened in January 2023 to allow visitors to safely access the historic sites while avoiding the infamous Bangkok traffic.
The tunnels and ticket hall are air-conditioned with multiple bathrooms for visitors to utilize before entering the compound grounds, two elevators and three escalators. Capable of handling thousands of travelers each day, this addition to the Grand Palace grounds was a welcome start to our sightseeing.
History
In 1782, the new king decided to move the capital to the left side of the Chao Phraya River, and construction began. Intended to be used as both a royal residence and home to the administrative offices, the compound covers 218,000 square meters, so make sure to allow a couple of hours to explore.
The palace encompasses more than 100 structures and several areas, including the main palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and took over 140 years to complete.
Pro tip: arrive early. It’s more crowded and much hotter later in the day.
We took our place in line and were among the first into the palace and I found myself being drawn into the spectacular beauty.. To be honest… I didn’t really want to visit again. This was our fifth trip to the palace, and although I remembered it as being impressive, I sort of felt “been there, done that”.
Having previously visited I wasn’t distracted by the overall scene, but instead took in sights like the mini replica of Angkor Wat within the compound and the minute details on individual walls. Intense observation of the delicate and extensive decor makes the century-plus completion period understandable.
In a poignant moment, we joined others in lighting candles next to a pond of lotus blossoms in memory of loved ones who have passed on.
As we wandered the grounds, we took in several of the complex structures, admired the tiny Emerald Buddha from afar, and enjoyed a stop at Queen Sirikit’s Museum of Textiles. The display is similar to the Princess Diana traveling show we saw in Sydney in 2007, with an extensive collection of the gowns the Queen wore, along with historical information regarding the royal dress worn by the family.
At the end of the day, I’m glad we went. It was fantastic to experience it through Dave & Anne’s fresh eyes and even I was moved by the pure grandeur and beauty of the architecture. The detail is extraordinary, and hey, how can one not be impressed by the intricate design and extraordinary colors? And the GOLD. Gold leaf everywhere?
After the changing of the guards we strolled a short distance to our favorite, Wat Pho. Or, Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihana, the official name of the home of the Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho was built in the late 16th century as a Buddhist monastery. Restored in 1788 by King Rama I, the west vihara, where the reclining Buddha is housed, was finished in 1848.
This temple complex is home to the national headquarters for the teaching of traditional Thai medicine and massage, in case simply seeing the enormous Reclining Buddha isn’t enough.
After fighting the crowds and the heat, we knew ice cream was in order, and we headed to the next block to Molthip Ice Cream, one of the oldest shops in Bangkok.
Will I return? That remains to be seen. But I certainly don’t regret paying the hefty cost of admission to, once again, admire a marvel of beauty and architecture.
The Grand Palace: Open Daily: 8:30-4:30 pm. Tickets: 500 TBT
Wat Pho: Open Daily: 8:30-6:30 pm. Tickets: 200 TBT
Please remember to observe the dress code at these, and all temples in the Kingdom of Thailand. No bare shoulders or shorts may be worn, and shoes must be removed before entering any of the temple buildings.