Showing posts with label [Thailand] Grand Palace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [Thailand] Grand Palace. Show all posts
Thailand Land of Smiles - Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง Is Indeed G.R.A.N.D!! (Part 2)
23 September 2009
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Title: Hor Phra Monthian Dharma
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:44pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A white prang behind Hor Phra Monthian Dharma.
The Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is indeed G.R.A.N.D in size. I nearly lost my way. There are 34 attractions in Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง. Thankfully, I was given an informative brochure with colourful plan of the palace. The best attractions are the golden bell-shaped Phra Siratana Chedi, two fierce looking temple guardians, a medium-sized model of Angkor Wat, Temple of Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew วัดพระแก้ว and the palace museum.
On your way out, remember to visit Wat Phra Kaew Museum located before the exit. This is a great place to learn everything about the architecture, artifacts and history of Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง. It has exclusive displays with informative descriptions. A small museum but the collections are simply impressive. It was the first time in my life spending time reading every little piece of info available.
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is the TOP 1 MUST-SEE places in Bangkok. Remember to start your journey early as you need one full morning or at least four hours to truly explore the entire place.
Next Post...Wat Arun วัดอรุณ or Temple of the Dawn.
Title: Phra Siratana Chedi เจดีย์
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:30pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/11, ISO Equiv.: 100
This gold chedi เจดีย์ looks like a gigantic ice cream bell. Chedi เจดีย์ is also known as stupa or pagoda.
Title: Phra Siratana Chedi เจดีย์
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:12pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This generally bell-shaped tower will usually contain a relic of the Buddha, but may also be built to contain the ashes of a king or important monk. Those who can afford it may also build smaller, typically square-shaped, ones for their own final resting place. The bell-shaped chedi เจดีย์ evolved during the golden age of Ayutthaya.
Source: http://thailandforvisitors.com/templeterms.html
Title: Unknown Building
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 3:01pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A unique looking building. I spent loads of time trying to identify this building but failed to find a match.
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Looking Back - A Slide show
Title: The Guardian's Hand
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 1:26pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Look at the bracelet. Some 'jewels' were missing. Visitors has been stealing these tiny little 'stones' from Grand Palace. Actually, these shiny bling-bling are pieces of coloured glass...nothing else.
Title: A Mosaic Tower
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 3:03pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
A tower with exquisite workmanship.
Title: Armored Warrior
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 1:17pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A towering warrior guarding Temple of Emerald Buddha วัดพระแก้ว also known as Wat Phra Kaew. His weapon look like a modified lightsaber :)
Title: The Royal Pantheon or Phra Asada Maha Chedi
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:32pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
The Royal Pantheon was constructed during the reign of King Rama IV in 1855. He intended to place the Emerald Buddha here but the building was not completed until after his death. His successor, King Rama V, considered the building too small to accommodate the congregation at royal ceremonies so the Emerald Buddha was not placed in this building. A small gilt stupa belonging to King Rama IV was placed there instead.
The building is only open to the public on one day a year -- Chakri Day, which falls on 6 April every year.
Title: Phra Wiharn Yod
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:36pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
The gabled Wiharn is decorated with flowery tiles and porcelain. Phra Wiharn Yod is part of the subsidiary buildings in Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง.
Title: The Phra Maha Monthian Group
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 3:23pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
This area consists of three main buildings, namely the Audience Hall of Amarinda Winitchai, the Paisal Taksin Hall and the Chakraphat Phiman Hall.
Title: Thai Prangs (Tower)
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:48pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
Three of the eight Thai prangs (tower) visible from the Temple of Emerald Buddha วัดพระแก้ว. The “Eight Prangs” are of different colours. Each one is dedicated to a certain Buddhist concept, as follows:
White: The Buddha Sakayamuni
Purplish Blue: The Teaching of the Buddha
Pink: The Community of Buddhist Monks
Green : The Buddhist Female Monks
Purple: One who has attained nirvana but who is not able to preach the knowledge to men (P. pacceka-buddha)
Dark Blue: The Universal Monarchs
Red: The Buddha in his Former Lives
Yellow: The Buddha Maitreya, the Future Buddha
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง - Getting There:
Getting to the Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is quite easy by boat. Take the Chaophraya Express Boat to the Chang Pier (Tha Chang). Walk through the market around the pier and out onto the plaza flanked by old shop houses. The long white wall of the Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is across the street on your right. You can't really miss it. The entrance is the second gate in the wall.
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง - Opening Hours & Fares:
Ticket costs 350 THB each
The yellow part is for the Grand Palace and is valid only on the day of purchase. ( A guide book will be given to each visitor at the entrance to the temple.)
The blue part is for the Vimanmek Mansion Museum ( The world's largest golden teakwood mansion ) This part of the ticket is valid for 7 days from the day of purchase. The Vimanmek Mansion Museum is located at Suan Phuttan Garden on Ratchawithi Road in the Dusit District of Bangkok, and may be reached by bus number 70, departing from outside the Grand Palace, or by taxi. (Note : Entry to Vimanmek Museum will not be permitted without the blue part of the ticket, which may also be purchased separately, on a daily basis, at the museum for 100 Baht.)
The white ticket is for The Royal Thai Decoration and Coin Pavilion, which is on the right hand side before the entrance to the temple.
Open everyday from 8.30 a.m. to 16.30 p.m.
Tickets sold until 15.30 p.m.
Phone: 02-623-5500 Ext. 1124, 3100
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง - Things To Do/See:
a) The Royal Chapel of Emerald Buddha
b) The Upper Terrace
c) Subsidiary Buildings
d) The Galleries
e) Phra Maha Montien
f) Chakri Maha Prasat Hall
g) Dusit Maha Prasat Hall
h) Borom Phiman Mansion
i) Phra Asada maha Chedi
j) Amarin Winitchai Hall
k) Wat Phra Keo/Kaew Museum
Total = 34 attractions
Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง - Read More:
a) http://tinyurl.com/njf5u3 (Thailandforvisitors.com)
b) http://palaces.thai.net/night/index_gp.htm (Official Website)
c) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Palace (Wikipedia Article)
d) http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok/Rattanakosin (Wikitravel Article)
e) http://tinyurl.com/mwu9p9 (TripAdvisor Travelers' Review)
Thailand Land of Smiles - Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง Is Indeed G.R.A.N.D!! (Part 1)
21 September 2009
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Title: On The Top of The World
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:26pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
A stone statue 'sitting' on top of a building.
Title Red Temple Guardian
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:45pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
I've seen similar temple guardian in Wat Chaiyamangalaram, Penang Malaysia.
Title: Green Temple Guardian
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:45pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
There is a gold ring on the right hand of the temple guardian.
Title: I SEE GOLD!!!
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 2:19pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/10, ISO Equiv.: 100
An unknown statue next to Phra Siratana Chedi. It was a damn hot day. Three hours under the hot Sun virtually transformed me into sunburn man just like Louis Koo.
Title: Chedi Lifting
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 1:30pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
One of the many elaborate statues decorated with wonderful coloured glass.
Title: FIERCE Blue Guardian
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 1:30pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
A close-up shot.
Title: ROAR!!!!
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:32pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 320
This is one fierce looking creature. Look at those hairs.
Title: Where Are You?
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:44pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 200
Surreal looking piece of wall painting.
Title: The Warrior
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:35pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 220
Another masterpiece wall painting.
Title: Giants & Orcs
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:45pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 200
This picture reminds me of Warcraft & God of War.
Title: Ancient War Machine
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:38pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 200
There's a story behind this painting.
Title: Into Siam War!
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:38pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 200
Look carefully, I can see humans fighting along with strange looking soldiers. Who are those weird guys?
Title: GIMME More!!!
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 1:47pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.0, ISO Equiv.: 360
A thought provoking picture. Try to guess. Is this giant protecting or chomping?
Title: EXOTIC
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:43pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 160
A close-up shot of the wall painting. The colours and motifs are BREATHTAKING!
Title: The Motifs
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:44pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 320
Some workers were restoring the wall paintings and adding gold paint to make it more realistic and lifelike.
Title: Ancient Art
Location: Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง , Bangkok, Central Thailand
Date: 3 September 2009, 12:42pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 180
These ancient wall paintings....It never fails to amaze me!
By the time I reached Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, there were hundreds of visitors! A few travelers were stopped at Viseschaisri Gate (main entrance) for wearing improper attire. According to Wikitravel "A strict dress code applies for visitors to the palace. Ladies must cover their upper arms and legs down to the thigh, while men must wear long trousers and at least a T-shirt. Sarongs can be borrowed for free at the entrance, but you must leave a deposit."
I paid 350 THB for the entrance ticket. That was really expensive. Later, I discovered it was a 3 in 1 package. Basically, I got myself three separate tickets. 1st ticket - Entrance to Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง & Temple of Emerald Buddha วัดพระแก้ว, 2nd ticket - Entrance to Nimanvek Mansion and 3rd ticket - Entrance to Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins. The 2nd and 3rd tickets can be used 7 days from the date of purchase.
The Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is SUPER HUGE!! I took four hours exploring the entire place. The palace was established in 1782 and it houses not only the royal residence and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew วัดพระแก้ว. It covers an area of 218 000 square metres and is surrounded by four walls 1 900 metres in length.
The first thing that caught my attention is the ancient wall painting. The walls are decorated with scenes from the Ramakien first painted during the reign of King Rama I. The first scene depict the initial stages of war waged by Rama of Ayothaya to rescues his wife Sita, who had been abducted by Thotsakan (Ravana) King of Longka. I was mesmerized by the drawings and spent one hour admiring the story behind the paintings before exploring the rest of the palace.
Next Post....Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง is G.R.A.N.D! (Part 2)
