Bangkok: A Recreation of Adventure
Bangkok, the centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, has been the capital of Thailand since 1782. There are many palaces in the city, some still used by the Thai royal family, while others are now open to the public. Many of them have become government or academic buildings as well as museums. The king's official residence is the Grand Palace, which has housed Thailand's monarchs for over 200 years.. It houses ChakriMahaprasat Hall and Wat PhraKaew, which contains the Emerald Buddha, considered the most important temple in Thailand. However, the more modern Chitralada Palace is the actual Bangkok residence of the reigning monarch, King BhumibolAdulyadej (Rama IX), and his Queen Sirikit.
Of the hundreds of Buddhist temples (or wats) in Bangkok, only a few are of much interest to tourists. When King Taksin led his troops out of Ayutthaya and into Thonburi in 1767 CE, they took refuge in Wat Arun.
Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or Wat PhraChetuphon, is south of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace. It is Bangkok's largest temple and contains a huge reclining Buddha figure that is 46 metres (151 ft) long and is covered with gold leaf. The feet alone are 3 metres (10 ft) in size.
Wat Suthat, is one of the oldest temples and the site of the Giant Swing, formerly used in an annual Brahman ceremony. A huge teak arch from which the swing(21.15m high) was hung still stands in front of the temple.It is also seen in many postcards.
Wat Saket, or the Golden Mount (PhuKhao Thong in Thai), houses relics of the Buddha in a 58-metre-high chedi surmounted by a golden cupola. Built by King Rama I just outside the new city's walls, the temple served as the main crematorium. In the century after its construction, some 60,000 plague victims were either cremated there or placed outside for vultures to devour.
Wat RatchanatdaramWoravihara (LohaPrasat): Wat RatchanatdaramWoravihara (LohaPrasat) is a sacred Buddhist temple built by the King Nangklao (Rama III) in 1846 for his niece - Mom Chao Ying SommanusWattanavadi. Aprt from being sacred, the temple's claim to fame is its iron roof called LohaPrasat.
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple): It is a fine example of Bangkok's architectural style with multi-tiered roofs, elegant bird-like decorations (chofahs) and the stunning gold carvings. A large stone lion on either side of the entrance, guards the temple. Inside is a magnificent Sukhothai-style Buddha statue, a copy of the original Phra Buddha Chinnarat that resides in Phitsanulok in northern Thailand.
Amazing Bangkok
Stunning Bangkok
Some of the famous places to visit in Bangkok are
The Grand Palace: A combination of Thai and European architecture, the Grand Palace was the erstwhile residence of the Kings of Siam and is used till date for royal ceremonies.
Safari world: Safari It consists of two parks named Marine Park and Safari Park. It has 480 acres for its open zoo and 180 acres for bird park.
Dream World: An American-style theme park,this is the ultimate entertainment zone for kids. The Super Splash and White Water Rapids are a hit with the little ones.
Madame Tussauds Museum: A must-visit when in the city, Madame Tussauds gives you a chance to pose with, touch and even hug the wax statues of your favourite celebrities!
Siam Ocean World Overview: The Siam Ocean World is an aquatic wonderland. It is the largest aquarium in Thailand and features some rare species from marine life and a 4D theatre.
The National Museum Bangkok: Considered to be the largest in Southeast Asia, the National Museum houses one of the best collections of art including Buddhist and devotional art, as well as some pieces belonging to the Thai royal family.
Dusit Zoo: Thailand's very first zoo is also known as 'Khao Din'. It is house to 1,600 domestic and international animals. The park also features a number of rides for children as well as an impressive lake, where you can enjoy boating and feeding the fish.
Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm & Zoo: The world's largest crocodile zoo is located 10 kilometres from Bangkok and is dedicated to the education and preservation of animals, especially crocodiles. There are daily crocodile shows where performers can be seen doing tricks like putting their heads and arms inside the crocodile's mouth.
Thailand has a variety of shopping experiences from street markets to world class luxury malls. The Chatuchak weekend market is one of the largest shopping destinations in Bangkok. Water markets are gradually disappearing, but remain strong tourist attractions as many tours are offered through the canals the markets are located on.
Some of the famous shopping centres in Bangkok are: Siam Paragon, Siam; Central World Siam; MBK Siam; EmQuartier, PhromPhong; Central Embassy Shopping Mall; Terminal 21, Sukumvit Road
The Chao Phraya River & Bangkok's Canals (khlongs): Nineteenth-century Bangkok was laced with canals, giving the capital the appellation "Venice of the East". Surviving canals and the Chao Phraya River provide a glimpse of a traditional waterborne way-of-life that has remained essentially unchanged over centuries. The river and canals may be explored by chartered boat or cruise.
