Bangkok Royal Palace

The glittering roofs of the palace can be seen from the street, but the real beauty of the magnificent palace complex can be assessed only on the other side of the wall. Here an atmosphere of absolute calm reigns. The sounds of the street almost never come here. The silhouette of the palace is defined by three tall buildings: Phra Siratana Chedi, Phra Mondop and Prasat Phra Thep Bidon.

The history of this attraction began in 1782, when King Rama I decided to make Bangkok the capital of Siam and ordered the construction of his residence. During its existence, the palace was rebuilt many times, restored and changed its appearance, which is not surprising, because each monarch wanted to remake it for himself.

For years, Bangkok was a small fishing village near the Chauprayya River. In 1782, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty, Rama I, moved the capital of Siam here, and began to build a royal palace on Rattanakosin Island. At the same time, the construction of artificial canals around the island began. Like the medieval moats, these channels (klongs) served as defensive barriers in the event of hostilities.

The temples and palaces on the island of Rattanakosin were the only stone structures built on the ground at that time. The simple inhabitants of Bangkok lived literally on the water, or rather on rafts with bamboo huts. It was only in the early 1800s that the first houses built on land appeared. Thanks to an extensive network of canals, the main type of movement was a boat. Foreign diplomats and missionaries arriving in Bangkok made parallels with Italian Venice, giving the city the name "Venice of the East.".

The Grand Royal Palace is not one building, but a whole complex of buildings and temples, the most remarkable of which is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Now the Grand Royal Palace is not residential, but still serves as a venue for important state receptions and royal ceremonies. Many Thais come here to visit not the palace itself, but the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The appearance of the temple is not less impressive than its interior. Golden stupas and statues of mythological guards frame the temple, and this collection of works of Buddhist art is surrounded by a wall describing the national history of Thailand. Several meters of frescoes depict Ramakien, the national Thai epic, in which the leading roles are played by Hanuman with his army of monkeys and idealist kings.

You will not be allowed into the palace with large bags and backpacks, but there is nowhere to leave them. So take care of the lack of luggage in advance. Also the entrance is closed for those who have tight clothes and open heels, legs and arms above the elbows. Ideas for ultimate drives around the world.

Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist cities in Asia. Heat, traffic jams, crowds of people and the smile that never disappears on the faces of Thais - everyone who has visited this city will tell about it. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia, with famous temples and palaces. The capital of Thailand can be called the city of contrasts, where history is combined with modernity, wealth with poverty, Buddhist temples with Christian churches, and markets with modern shopping centers. The capital of Thailand, no one leaves indifferent.

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