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Bangkok Attractions
ith so much to choose audience hall with traditional
from, any relatively multi¬tiered roofs and an
brief selection of elegant, gilded spire; the Amarin
Bangkok attractions must Vinitchai Throne Hall, which
inevitably be personal. The served a the residence of the
following includes some of the first three Chakri kings; and the
most celebrated sights in or near Chakri Maha Prasat, contain¬ing
the city, as well as a few that the present throne hall, a
might get overlooked in the basically Euro¬pean edifice
course of a short visit: crowned by three Thai spires.
The Grand Palace Enclosure The temple, known as Wat Phra
Keo, houses the famous Emerald
No group of buildings in all the Buddha, a small, much-venerated
country better illustrates the image of northern Thai ori¬gin
splendour of Thailand's cultural whose jewelled robes are changed
heritage than this mile-square three times a year by His Majesty
com¬pound containing the Grand the King at the beginning of each
Palace and its adjacent Temple of season. The main chapel, as well
the Emerald Buddha. The earliest as the numerous buildings and
structures, in classic Thai monu¬ments surrounding it, are
style, date from the reign of dazzlingly adorned by a profusion
King Rama I; extensive changes of stucco, gilded carvings,
were made by later rulers of the mother-of-pearl inlay, glass
dynasty, particularly King mosaics, statu¬ary, and other
Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who added classic Thai arts. (The Grand
a number of impres¬sive Palace is open daily, from 9 a.m.
Western-style buildings to the to 6 p.m.)
collec¬tion. Of special interest
are the Dusit Maha Prasat, an WatArun
entirely of rare golden Teak, was
Popularly called Temple of Dawn, designed by a son of King Rama V
this dramatic complex overlooking at the turn of the century. It
the Chao Phraya River on the West was originally intended as a
bank dates from the Ayutthaya place for the king to stay on
period and, during the Thonburi visits to the island of Si Chang
reign of King Taksin, was briefly in the Gulf of Thailand but was
the home of the Emerald Buddha. moved while still incomplete to
In those days its central, Bangkok. There it served for a
Khmer-style tower was only 15 time as the royal residence
metres tall, however; the present during construc¬tion of the
104-metre creation was started by nearby Dusit Palace. The
King Rama II of Bangkok and octago¬nal building - reputedly
completed in the following reign. the largest teak structure in the
Known as a prang, the tower world - was restored by Her
represents the sacred Mount Meru, Majesty Queen Sirikit as part of
a heavenly realm consisting of 33 Bangkok's Bi¬centennial
layers. Wat Arun is noted for its Celebration in 1982 and since
spectacular decoration, then has been open to the public.
consisting of thou¬sands of Vimarn Mek contains a fascinating
pieces ofThai and Chinese pottery col¬lection of Royal memorabilia,
set in an intricate mosaic of including old photographs,
delicate floral patterns covering furniture, objets d'art, and such
almost the entire structure. (Wat curiosities as a large copper
Arun is open daily from 9 a.m. to bath and the first shower ever
5 p.m.) seen in Thailand. (Vimarn Mek is
open Wednesday through Sundays,
Vimam Mek Palace 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
This magnificent palace, built Jim Thompson's House
This was the home ofthe famous The Weekend Market
Ameri¬can who came to Thailand as
a military officer at the end of For a comprehensive introduction
World War II and stayed on to to the real life of contemporary
revive the Thai silk industry as Thailand - its people, its
well as to form one of the finest culture, and its products both
private collections of art from natural and man-made - few single
Thailand and neighbouring places can equal the great public
countries. market held every Saturday and
Sunday at Chatuchak Park. Here,
The Thompson house, which he late on Friday evening, thousands
built in 1959, is actually of vendors move in an amazing
composed of four complete old assortment of goods, and for two
Thai-style teak structures and days the 31-acre area is packed
part of a fifth, artfully with Thais of all classes in
reassembled to form a single search of a bargain or just the
residence. The lofty, panelled pleasure of its colourful
drawing room, for example, dates atmosphere.
from around 1800 and came from a
community of silk weavers across Though mostly covered, the market
the canal behind the house, while can be hot for visitors and
others were found in a village involves a good deal of walking,
near A yutthaya. Some features, so wear your most comfortable
such as the enclosed stairhall clothes and shoes; plenty of
and the modern bathrooms, open-air food stalls are
represent departures from scat¬tered around, however,
traditional construction, yet the offering a cool drink or a bowl
essen¬tial Thai spirit has been of quick noodles for those whose
carefully preserved. energy flags. (The Weekend Market
is open Saturday and Sunday, from nearby Floating Market at Damnern
dawn until nightfall.) Saduak, -- and enjoy a few hours
of strolling around the extensive
The Rose Garden gardens, eating in one of several
restaurants, and seeing a
Located some 32 kilometres west cultural show performed every
of Bang¬kok on the bank of a afternoon at 3 o'clock.
picturesque river, this Traditional village culture is
beau¬tifully landscaped park has the theme of the show, which
a golf course, a modem hotel, and includes folk dances, trained
Thai-style bungalows for rent. elephants, Thai boxing and sword
Most people, however, go there fighting. (The Rose Garden is
for a day trip - often in open daily from 8 a.m. to 6
conjunction with a visit to the p.m.).
Jack Vallieres is the professional freelance writer. He's also the webmaster of Hundredtrip.com
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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