The Grand Palace in Bangkok

One last stop on our private tour in Bangkok and this one is not to be missed.  The Grand Palace was built in 1782 and has been the official residence of the monarchy of Thailand until recently.  The current King resides elsewhere but the Palace is still used for official events.  It's a large complex with various buildings, pavilions, halls, gardens, stupas and chapels.  This is also where you will find Thailand's most sacred site, Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.  You could write a book about this place so I'll just share some of my favorite photographs from our time there and just a few quick tips if you are planning on visiting.

These lotus buds were on a tray outside Wat Phra Kaew.  Devotees would dip them into holy water and then anoint their head with the water. It's one of my favorite photos from our time in Bangkok, I think because of our visit earlier to the Lotus Farm and the buds are just so beautiful.

This photo of an offering is another favorite.  As both a royal and a religious site, there was so much to see at the Grand Palace.  The architecture, the statues, the colors and designs. It was spectacular.

Notice how tall these gate guards or Yakshas are that guard the entrance.  The details and intricate designs are never ending.  

As you can see there are many mythical creatures on the grounds each symbolizing an important component of Buddhism or Thai culture.  These fearsome guards wrap around the base of this stupa.  Our guide told us that you can determine if they are man or monkey by looking at their feet.  The monkey guards aren't wearing shoes.   

Another favorite.  I can't apologize for the number of photos in this post, because this place was stunning at every turn.  I wanted to capture every inch of it.

I've been gushing about why you need to visit the Grand Palace when you are in Bangkok, but this site was much more work than the others.  It's one of the most popular tourist stops in Thailand, with good reason, but this means that it's very crowded.  I was jostled and pushed so much here that I wanted to scream at times.  It was also extremely hot with not a lot of shade to be found.

So try to get there early, keep hydrated and be prepared for the crowds.  There is also a very strict dress code so be sure to do your research.  Don't forget to brush up on your temple etiquette so as not to accidentally offend someone.  

As we were in Bangkok for such a short time, we paid for a private tour guide for the day from Your Thai Guide which was invaluable.  If you only have a short time in a city, this is a great way to squeeze a lot in.  Our guide Nina knew all of the tips and tricks so that we could get the most out of our day.  We paid full-price for the tour guide which was only 2,800 Thai Baht or £65 for 8 hours.  We then paid for meals, public transportation and entry fees.  They made suggestions of places that we might want to visit and then helped us tailor our day specifically to us.

Here's a recap of what we did:  

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Lotus Farm

Golden Buddha of Wat Traimit

Wat Pho - The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

The Grand Palace 

How do you get the most out of a short stay in a great city?

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