Chrismate: The Grand Palace in Bangkok

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

The Grand Palace in Bangkok

The glittering spires of the Grand Palace

Curiously, the Grand Palace in Bangkok has not been elected as one of the 20 new wonders of the world nor has it been added to UNESCO list of world heritage.

Giant statue of a guardian

This is truly weird because its beauty and richness make are one of the top sites to see in the world. However, it does attract thousands of visitors every day and I do not remember anybody saying it was not worth seeing. In fact, people remain literally in awe at what they see. So, hopefully, this will convey a sense of fairness to the Grand Palace and palliate for the lack of universal recognition it is still missing.

I have been there many times already, but I am still stunned by its

The golden chedi

outstanding beauty and by the profusion of such an art display. The sanctuary has all the functions of a Thai monastery except that it does not have any monks living on site. Its glittering spires in the distance are an unforgettable sight. The big golden chedi [Thai word for a stupa] is a reminder of the Ceylonese heritage, whereas the huge green prang of the Temple of the

The green prang

Emerald Buddha recalls the Indian-Khmer heritage. The painted murals in the side galleries are rich in details and account for the Siamese past life. There is a tremendous collection of sculptures revealing all kinds of mythical figures. Everywhere you look at, there is no space left that has not been adorned. It is simply incredible.

The Emerald Buddha may look small inside its Temple but it is an emblematic testimony of Siamese past. It is made of one piece of jade and its history has become a legend. It was accidentally discovered inside a

Wall mosaic detail

Chiang Rai temple after a stroke of lightning hit the chedi. Then it was moved to Lampang. But when the King of Laos took it to Vientiane until the Siamese royal army fought the Laotians and took it back to Thailand, where it has been ever since as a symbol of royal grandeur.

After the sanctuary, the rest of the royal enclosure remains impressive too. There are palaces, gardens, or smaller shrines. The royal guards are often quite a hit with the visitors. On the way out there is a museum and also a little coffee shop to sit and relax for a while.