Joanna James
The Thai capital Bangkok offers a myriad of attractions for the tourist. In this city, you will have the opportunity to visit palaces, temples and other highlights that are sure to captivate and strike your imagination.
The spectacular Grand Palace takes pride of place among Bangkok’s attractions and is considered to be one of the most esteemed features of the city. As its name indicates, the Grand Palace is an elaborate and lavish creation that always makes an impression on the mind of the observer. This complex also features the temple known as Wat Phra Kaew home to a sacred emerald Buddha statue. The Grand Palace which dates back to 1782 functioned as the residence of the Thai royalty for many years and still is made use of for important ceremonial occasions.
The unmistakable Wat Arun inherits a rich historical legacy as it is related to the ancient conflicts between Siam and its rival, Burma. After the Siamese capital Ayutthaya fell to the forces of Burma, General Taksin vowed to defeat the Burmese and to construct a temple to commemorate the feat. Wat Arun was that shrine. Today, Wat Arun presents a splendid sight for the visitor. If you choose to ascend the main tower just prior to the time of sunset, you will be able to experience a stunning sight as the setting sun descends over the Chao Phraya River.
Your tour of Bangkok’s attractions would not be complete without visiting the well-known Wat Pho. This temple was constructed by the monarch Rama I and has the distinction of being one of the oldest Buddhist shrines in the city. Today, this temple is most famed for the immense reclining Buddha statue that it contains which measures no less than 45 m in length and 15 m in height. Interestingly, the soles of the statue’s feet are adorned with gemstones that feature the 108 symbols of genuine faith.
The highlight of this temple in Bangkok is the remarkable golden Buddha statue that it contains. In the 1950s a company acquired a plot of land adjacent to this temple. As a large plaster Buddha statue was being removed, it fell to the ground and some monks noticed a gleam of gold beneath the plaster. It was discovered that beneath the shell of plaster was a statue of solid gold. This amazing statue can be seen at Wat Traimit today. A choice of accommodation to consider from which this temple may easily be visited would be Somerset Park Suanplu Bangkok which is amongst the options for those in search of a serviced apartment in Sathorn.
The splendid National Museum is sure to capture the interest of history lovers visiting the Thai capital. For a long time this establishment was the sole museum in Thailand, and accordingly still boasts an extensive collection of artefacts today. You will find that the majority of the displays are labelled in English as well as Thai. Also, take the opportunity to view the Wang Na Palace which contains numerous interesting artefacts as well.
If you enjoy shopping and markets you will be in your element at Chatuchak Market. In this immense weekend market, you will find a vast selection of goods, including merchandise ranging from religious objects and jewellery to delectable street foods. In fact, with as many as 15,000 stalls to be found at this market, it is likely to contain almost any kind of good that you can imagine. This market will be a great setting at which to intermingle with the local people and gain an authentic experience of the typical Thai lifestyle in the city.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
