A palace like no other - The Grand Palace (The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo)

Member Name: chocomint

Product:	The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo
Date:	20/10/08 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really really colourful and I'm yet to see a palace more beautiful

Disadvantages: The heat and swindlers trying to take you for a ride

This is definitely a must see for any tourist travelling to Bangkok. It's really beautiful and the millions of tiny tiles on the walls make it so so colorful, it's really amazing.

The main attraction of the complex is the 45 centimeter Emerald Buddha, carved from one stone of Jade. This is the holiest and most religious object in Thailand.

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Personal experience
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After reading many great reviews about the Grand Palace this was first on our itinerary. We took a cab and had a hard time explaining to the cab driver where we wanted to go, as they don't speak or understand English too well. Having a map with us made things easier for him and for us as he was able to take us where we wanted to go once we showed him the map, and where we wanted to go.

Beware of swindlers trying to take you on their own tour, they will take you to several other shops from where they get commissions for bringing customers.

When we got there it was really HOT and sunny. We didn't know where exactly to go first as there were buildings in all directions. We just followed some other visitors at the start. This palace is really wonderful, it looks so beautiful and glamorous with so much of colour. It took us about 4 hours to go around the palace and it was well worth it.

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History
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The Grand Palace was used as the official residence of the kings of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century, but the complex still remains the seat of power and the spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom. 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.

Built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with European designs, the Grand Palace complex, is unquestionably one of the Bangkok's major tourist attractions.

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Open hours
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The grand palace is opened to public everyday from 8.30am to 3.30pm except when its being used for a state function.
Guided tours in English are also available, the guided tour times are at 10.00am, 10.30am, 1.30pm and 2.00pm.
Note that the audience halls in the Grand Palace are closed on weekends. It's possible to visit the magnificent thrones on weekdays. The Royal Pantheon in Temple of the Emerald Buddha is only open one day a year, and that's on the 6th of April.
Visitors must be appropriately dressed to be able to be allowed inside the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

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Tickets and Pricing
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Admission to the Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha and the Central Court of the Grand Palace is 300 Baht per person. This also includes an admission ticket to Vimanmek Mansion (to be used within 7 days of visit to grand palace). We used this option and visited the Mansion on the eve of the same day as it is not too far from the Grand Palace.

Summary: Very highly recommended! A must see.