The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Every travel guide, may it be book, website, blog, magazine will tell you, it’s a must see in Bangkok –> Rattanakosin Island , home to the famous Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, National Museum, Thammasat University, Silpakorn University and some important government buildings.

I started my Bangkok walking tour at Royal Avenue and ended up at Rattanakosin Island mid-afternoon. It was a very tiring tour but it’s worth all the sweat! I didn’t however get to tour  The Grand Palace until April of this year, as the entrance fee was pretty expensive for me –>350B!!!   You can only use the ticket for the Grand Palace on the day you bought it ( which closes at 4:30PM Bangkok time, last ticket sold at 3:30pm)  but the rest of the ticket is usable for 7 days for the Dusit Area. I will be writing a separate entry about the Grand Palace Tour so watch out for that.

I regret being too lazy and writing this post only today as I am really having a hard time remembering the route I took to reach the Grand Palace, so I’m analyzing the 3 maps I used that day while composing this.

The Ministry of Defense Building beside the City Pillar

This tour started at  Lak Muang or The City Pillar which is regarded as the heart of the city and houses Phra Lak Muang, the guardian spirit of Bangkok. It was  erected when Bangkok was established as a capital of Thailand. Walking south, I saw the Grand Palace walls.  I crossed the street and headed towards the main entrance.

As I said since the entrance fee is not on my budget, I just went inside the gate and took some pictures of it’s surroundings, besides, it was already 3pm and it closes at 4:30 pm so I don’t have much time to explore it.  I was able to tour it  only after 4 months, April of this year.

The Grand Palace is one of the most photographed tourist site in Bangkok.  It consists of  government offices, royal residence, throne halls,  museums and the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha (made of jade).  I have read that to photograph it is strictly forbidden and this is not just a requirement of the chapel; taking pictures of Buddha images is against the law but  I was surprised to find out ( I overheard a tourist guide tell his clients ) that we can take a photo of  it while outside the temple.  (Pls. read the important tips at the bottom of this  post if you plan to take this tour, might be of help.)

Other main attractions inside the Grand Palace are : The Upper Terrace, Subsidiary Buildings, The Galleries, The Phra Maha Monthian Group, The Chakri Group, The Dusit Group and The Borom Phiman Mansion.

Borom Phiman Mansion

Dress code is strictly observed so upon entry at the main gate.  You can  look at the pictures posted outside the hall so you’ll know wether you’re wearing the appropriate outfit.  But  hey, no worries, if your like me who happens to wear a prohibited one, you can simply deposit 200B and get a wrap around or apparels that you can use while inside the Grand Palace. You can just return it after your tour and get your money back.

Phra Mondop (the gold chedi) and Phra Siratana Chedi

They say when you are in Bangkok, temple overload is  expected, so I think a visit to the Grand Palace would be enough to avoid that.  You will be provided a handy guide  w/ a map inside upon entry so there’s a slim chance that you’ll get lost inside, besides if you do, then just ask around!

the Temple of the Emerald Buddha's outside wall

Exit by the same way you entered the Grand Palace and return the apparels you borrowed and get your money back.  It took me more or less 3 hours to finish the entire area, I really took the time to visit each and every attraction inside, even the museums.

Upon walking out of the main gate, I turned right  then headed south along the palace wall  to the direction of the City Pillar Shrine (do not cross the street ). I turned right  and walk until I reached the end of the Grand Palace wall .   Then crossed the street towards the entrance to the oldest and biggest temple What Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon which houses the largest number of chedi ( ‘spiritual monument’ in Thai) in Bangkok.

chedi @ Wat Pho

There are several buddha inside this majestic temple but What Pho is famous for the Reclining Buddha and it’s Thai Traditional Massage School.

the Reclining Buddha

I remember I went out of the gate close to the house of the Reclining Buddha. I crossed the street ,and walked left  then northwards. At the end of the street I saw several shop houses, sidewalk vendors and a small market that sells dried fish and Thai foods.

Black and Gold Buddha @ What Pho

It just took me a few steps  before I  reached the pier – Tha Tian across What Pho, from which you may take a ferry to Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn. This famous temple is attractive in its striking pagoda decorated with multi-colored porcelain fragments.

Temple Rules of Etiquette

As Wat Phra Kaew is Thailand’s most important temple, you are expected to dress appropriately or risk being turned away. Signs put up around the entrance show you are not permitted to enter wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, singlets or any form of open ended shoes. Sarongs and long trousers are usually available for loan should you forget.

Photography inside the Emerald Buddha Chapel is strictly forbidden.

Under no circumstances must you point your feet at the Emerald Buddha – to do so is sacrilege. If you can not cross you legs, avoid sitting down. If you do point your feet at the Buddha image, you could be ejected. So i f you are sitting on the ground, tuck your feet under you so that they are not pointing at anyone or anything.

Do not take pictures of people while they are praying and do not have your picture taken with a Buddha image.

Take off your shoes before you enter a temple for they are considered unclean and it is a sign of disrespect to wear them into such a sacred place.

Women should never touch a monk or hand him anything directly. When offering alms, place it on a table for the monk to pick up.

Commuting to the Grand Palace:

Don’t listen to anyone on the street as you try to enter telling you it’s closed for a ‘Buddhist holiday’, ‘cleaning’ etc, or asking if you want to see the ‘Lucky Buddha’ instead – it’s all part of a sophisticated gem scam.

Ordinary buses 44, 47 and 91 stop on Thaiwang road between Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew.

Ordinary buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 82 and 91 also stop on Maharat road, on the west of Wat Phra Kaew.

At  Sanam Luang, north of Wat Phra Kaew, ordinary buses 3, 15, 30, 32, 43, 44, 59, 64, 70, 80, 123 and 201 all stop, as well as air-conditioned buses 6, 7, 12, 39 and 44.

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