Bangkok Travel Diary. The Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo (in translation the Temple of Emerald Buddha) deserves a special post and description. It is the most beautiful place in Bangkok, unmissable. Its size and architecture tells about the riches of Thai Royalty and its culture. It's an extremely big and crowded museum, as it is a popular tourist spot- a day is the least you can allocate for the exploration. But if you get to visit the Grand Palace, nothing else will impress you as much as this place in Thailand. Intricacy of the design, the elaborate decorations, the multitude of statues, pavilions, lots of gold leaf and color, the grandeur of temples, the roofs, the gardens, the courtyards... every angle you take pictures at is a great catch. 

The compound was build during 200 years, in period of successive reigning kings. To mention that the Palace is still a working place for some governmental institutions and royal offices. It is divided into several quarters: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; the Outer Court, with many public buildings; the Middle Court, including the Phra Maha Monthien Buildings, the Phra Maha Prasat Buildings and the Chakri Maha Prasat Buildings; the Inner Court and the Siwalai Gardens quarter. 

Museum of Textile is the latest addition. It displays the current queen’s dresses and demonstrates the way she transformed the dress style for the Thai women. Generally noticed many tourists missing this museum on their walk, although entry ticket is included. 

Recommended: while visiting dress adequately. Make sure you do not wear flip-flops or shorts, for men a long sleeved shirt is required, and for ladies covered shoulders and knees.