Grand Palace - Bangkok, Thailand

I spent the entire day trekking the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The palace began construction in 1782 and was inhabited by 8 Thai Kings - Kings Rama the 1st through 8th. The palace complex covers 218,000 square meters surrounded by a 20 ft wall that is 1900 meters in length.

60+ years ago the current King Rama the 9th built a new palace complex at which time the Grand Palace was opened to the public.

The Grand Palace is comprised of 2 major sections: the palace residence, and; the much larger temple section.



Exterior of the temple section of the Grand Palace in Bangkok Thailand



Exterior of the palace section of the Grand Palace in Bangkok Thailand



left: This is the main palace where the kings resided - including King Rama 1st who was the first Thai king to learn a foreign language (English) and was made famous in "The King and I". That is a "robe dressing room". In the foreground.
right: This is the bed used by King Rama the 1st, late 1700s.



left: This is the most famous stupa in Thailand containing one of the oldest Buddhist scripture known - written on palm leaves and encased in mother-of-pearl covers.

right: Me standing in front of a model of Angkor Wat which King Rama VI (1860s) had constructed after visiting it because he was so impress. It's only been a few months since I visited Angkor Wat which also really impressed me - mall world



left: The Emerald Buddha is famous in Thailand. You cannot take pictures inside the temple - so no pics of the beautiful jade statue. It's a pale green about 4-5 feet tall with solid gold robes. Very impressive!

right: There are many temples in the Grand Palace - most with extensive mirror tile, glazed tile and gold leaf decorated exteriors.



left: Several of many ornate stupas located on the Grand Palace grounds. Each stupa contains the ashes of cremated royal family members.

right: Me between ornately decorated Buddhist/Hindu demons that decorate many of the stupas and temples located on the Grand Palace grounds.. The one to my right is the monkey demon who is always barefooted - to. My left is tiger demon who always wears shoes.



Me in front of one of the many "gold" temples located on the palace grounds. They are incredibly beautiful.