The Grand Palace, Bangkok, the Royal Residence of the King of Thailand

The Grand Palace, Bangkok

The Royal Residence of the King of Thailand

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

The Grand Palace (Phra Boromma Maha Ratcha Wang) is a complex of palaces, temples, pavilions and stupas in the heart of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand . It is located on the banks of Chao Phraya River and is on the Ratanakosin Island. (Also see: Heritage Walk of Rattanakosin Island)

The Grand Palace, Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok, Thailand

The construction of The Grand Palace began in 1782 under Rama I, the founder of Chakri Dynasty. After overthrowing King Taksin, who ruled from Thonburi, on the other side of the Chao Phraya River, Rama I dug canals (Also see: Fortification of Bangkok) to set up the artificial island of Rattanakosin, his new capital.

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Heritage walk of Rattanakosin Island, Exploring Bangkok’s Royal Legacy

Heritage walk of Rattanakosin Island

Exploring Bangkok’s Royal Legacy

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

The island of Rattanakosin has the Chao Phraya River on the west an on the other three side is the ring canal of Khalong Maha Nak. The canal was dug by Rama I (Reign 1782 – 1809) the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom (Also see: Fortification of Bangkok).

Bird’s eye view of Rattanakosin Island from Golden Mount, Bangkok

Today Rattanakosin is the hub of built heritage in Bankok and also house the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The canal measures 7.2 km and the island covers an area of 4.142 km², so the best way to explore the Rattanakosin Island is on foot. 

Fortification of Bangkok, tracking Bangkok’s Forts, City Walls and Moats

Fortification of Bangkok

Tracking Bangkok’s Forts, City Walls and Moats

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

Today Bangkok is a modern city with a few ancient temples, but on closer inspection one can find an unique series of defensive mechanism which one protected the ancient city. The defensive mechanism consisting of forts, defensive walls and moats, which were constructed over a period of several centuries.

Phra Sumen Fort, Bangkok (Photo edit Deepanjan Ghosh)

The structures started coming up during the late Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351 – 1767) and continued till the present Rattanakosin Kingdom (started in 1782). Bangkok underwent rapid modernization beginning in the late 19th century, and by the 1920s most of the city’s original forts and walls had been demolished to make way for the construction of roads and buildings.

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, Thonburi, Bangkok

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn

Thonburi, Bangkok

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or simply Wat Arun is one of Bangkok’s most prominent landmark. It is located in the Thonburi region of Bangkok, which lies on the west bank of Chao Pharya River.

Approaching Wat Arun across the Chao Pharya River, Thonburi, Bangkok

Today the Buddhist Temple dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Aruna, with its distinctive prang (spire), dominates the Bangkok sky line. The temple dates back to the Ayuthaya Kingdom (1351 to 1767) but the prang (spire) was added during the reign of Rama II (reign 1809 – 24).

Wat Saket and the Golden Mount, Rattanakosin, Bangkok

Wat Saket and the Golden Mount

Rattanakosin, Bangkok

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

The glittering golden chedi (stupa) of the Golden Mount towers above the sky scrapper infested skyline of Bangkok a sight never to be missed for tourist visiting the Thailand capital.

Golden Chedi (Stupa) of Golden Mound, Wat Saket, Bangkok

The temple of Wat Saket is located on a 80 meter high artificial mound and is crowned with 5.8 meter tall golden chedi. The temple dates back to the period of Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351 – 1767) Wat Sakae.

Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat

Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat, Bangkok

A canal boat service in Bamgkok, Thailand

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

Just watch your step when boarding and disembarking as they don’t stop at the pier for long. Pay the fare to the fearless helmet-wearing ticket collectors who clamber around on the outside of the boat, ducking at bridges, as it barrels down the canal.

Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat, Bangkok

This is Khalong Saen Saep Express Boat service. Mostly used by locals to commute to work, the service is cheap and you get to see the “backside” of the neighbourhoods, so to speak. Also, It is immune to Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams.

Pig Memorial, Pi Kun Bridge, Old City Moat, Bangkok

Pig Memorial

Pi Kun Bridge, Old City Moat, Bangkok

Also see: FAM tour of Thailand

Bangkok, a city known for its night life and shopping, has some very unusual memorials and monuments. The Democracy Monument, Victory Monument, Monument to the Expeditionary Force and October 14 Memorial are some of the well known monuments and memorials of Bangkok.

Pig Memorial, Bangkok

But Bangkok’s most unusual memorial is the Pig Memorial. Unlike the previous mentioned memorial the Pig Memorial does not lie on a regular tourist trail, so hardly visited by tourist.