This is a "must" for every visitor to Bangkok,
for the Grand Place Complex, which includes the Temple of
The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow) is unquestionably one
of the wonders of the world today. Within its enormous grounds
is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the
temple itself is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one
piece jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious
objects in Thailand today.
Nearby
is the Grand Palace, once the official home of the Kings
of Siam-built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with
European designs. You will also visit The Royal Funeral
Hall and The Royal Coronation Hall. This Palace has an area
of 218,400 sq.meters and is surrounded by walls built in
1783. The length of the four walls totals 1900 meters. Within
these walls are situated government offices and the Chapel
Royal of the Emerald Buddha besides the royal residences.When
Siam restored law and order after the fall of Ayudhya the
monarch lived in Dhonburi on the other side of the river.
Rama I, immediately on ascending the throne, moved the center
of administration to this side of the Chaopraya; and, after
erecting public monuments such as fortifications and monasteries,
built a palace to serve not only as his residence but also
his offices the various ministries, only one of which remains
in the palace walls. This palace came to be known as the
Grand Palace, in which the earliest edifices contemporary
with the foundation of Bangkok were the two groups of residences
named the Dusit Mahaprasad and the Mahamontien.
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