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The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
By Mark Carter on 30 / 04 / 2013 No Comments Yet
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and theTemple of the Emerald Buddha
A trip to the Grand Palace and the Holiest Temple in ThailandStunning! Absolutely stunning! On rare occasions in life you experience something soimpressive that you struggle for words. My recent trip to the Grand Palace in Bangkok,especially to see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was one such occasion. For once it wentbeyond all expectations – it’s simply magnificent.
I was on a business trip to Bangkok, and needed to stay over the weekend, so this providedan ideal opportunity to see more of what this amazing city had to offer. Out of all the sites ofinterest around, which one should I see? Well, Thailand’s most revered temple seemed theobvious answer.
I took a taxi through Bangkok’s dense traffic after my lunch, mindful that entrance to the GrandPalace complex ends at 3.30pm. I was dropped off at an entrance, but was told that thisentrance was for Thai’s, and that I had to walk round to another gateway. I brushed aside myfeelings of confusion over why they’d do this, and followed the high walls to find the otherentrance, with 40 degrees of heat, clear blue sky and the sun beating down on me.
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Written By Mark Carter 10 more posts
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
First ImpressionsSo what was my first impression when inside the Grand Palace? (Phra Borom Maha RatchaWang) – Hordes of tourists! One thing is for sure – you are not going to feel lonely here! It waswall to wall people, though I suspect that it might be less busy on a weekday. It seemed thathalf the population of mainland China was there with me, judging from the faces and accents,alongside locals and people from all around the world.
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The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
I skipped past the residences of the King, aware of my limited time available, and intending toreturn to them afterwards if I have time left, and headed for the temples. A 500 Baht feesecured my entrance. In retrospect I should have also bought sun block and a water bottlewhilst I had a chance as well as my ticket!
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
Once inside, the complex of temples opened out in a kaleidoscope of vivid colours and goldenspires, all reaching up into the azure blue sky. It really was a case of where should I look andwhat to explore first, as there were so many beautiful buildings to see. I took plenty of photos,but decided I didn’t want to just experience everything through the lens of my camera, so Iconsciously stopped to really look and allow myself to fully absorb each building in turn. Amass of exquisite carvings embellished each, with statues and figures protecting each sacredspace.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
Amongst all these buildings the Golden Stupa (Phra Sri Rattana Chedi) was a magnificentcontrast, it’s simplicity really standing out. Housing ashes of the historical Buddha, the stupaform itself symbolises the Enlightenment of the Buddha, with the various levels of attainmentsymbolically represented in features of the architecture.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
The Temple of the Emerald BuddhaOnto the Temple of the Emerald Buddha itself (Wat Phra Kaew), and this is where the biggestcrowds were gathered. My eye was drawn to a group of young monks about to enter theTemple, children all, but calm and still amongst the activity all around them.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
Nearby to people who were making offerings of incense and lotus flowers outside, I glancedupon a statue of Kwan Yin which was almost hidden from view, and was stunned by its beauty.Facing away from the entrance of the temple it attracted little attention, yet its features capturethe perfection of peace and contentment so well.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
I entered the temple, and took my place on the mats, sitting in silence before this reveredshrine. The Emerald Buddha itself was perched high above me, on elaborate layers ofplatforms surrounded by protective figures. Smaller than I imagined, it nevertheless radiated a
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
quiet power. It was easy to feel why it was considered the most holy in all of Thailand.
After a time I noticed the rivers of sweat running down me – it is really hot in this temple,amidst the throngs of people and limited ventilation and fans. The other odd thing was theshouting from large groups of visitors, which was noticeably from one particular culture! It didn’tseem to matter that this was a holy place – they seemed almost oblivious of appropriate waysto behave in such a place! Nevertheless, sweat and noise melted away, as an extraordinarypeacefulness pervaded the room, despite appearances.
You are not allowed to take a photo of the Emerald Buddha, unlike the rest of the temples andshrines, so I’ve included a stock photo below.
I explored the rest of the temple complex, marvelling at the energy given off by the figuressupporting some of the structures.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
Interestingly me for, the standout experience was actually the murals painted on a series ofouter walls. Depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the imagery resonated somewhere deepwithin me, immersing me in their mythic struggles and story.
Some of the faces were simply beyond beautiful, and their look was quite haunting. They werepossessed of such a presence that it was as if the events unfolded before me, and I was partof and surrounded by the story.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
I left the complex when I’d absorbed all I could – in fact in two hours and a half I actually feltfull to the brim with sense impressions and emotions. I knew that I was at my limit.
I took a quick tour around the rest of the Grand Palace with all its grandiose buildings for the
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
King. Whilst they were highly impressive in both scale and character, they didn’t have thesame spiritual depth as the temples, so I guess my time with them was lesser in both durationand impact.
By then I realised my skin was being fried by the 40 degrees heat and brilliant Bangkok sun,so decided a cold drink and rest on a step seemed the right move after so much to see. Awarning to the wise – beware of people coming round offering your special trips andunbeatable offers – there’s a whole industry of people who target tourists with con acts. Bettersafe than sorry! They say ‘if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is’ and that iscertainly the case with this.
A Boat Ride up the Chao Phraya RiverSo how do you round off such an intense set of sights and experiences? Just nearby is themighty Chao Phraya river, so I walked the short distance, and queued for the boat ride back tomy hotel. For a mere 20 Baht I took a leisurely 25 minute ride up this magnificent river, andallowed my mind to absorb all that I’d seen and felt that afternoon.
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
I have to say that it was one of the most impressive places I’d ever been to, and one whichtouched me deeply. If you are faint of heart you might find the sheer mass of tourists and noiseanything from distracting to positively off-putting. Other than that, I cannot find any negatives
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
here – I wholeheartedly recommend that you visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, and theTemple of the Emerald Buddha in particular if you have a chance – I’m sure you won’t bedisappointed.
Lastly, whether you’re on business trip or holiday in Bangkok, remember to get travelinsurance for peace of mind as you roam around to discover hidden gems in the city.
Find out more: Grand Palace on Wikipedia
Find out more: Temple of Emerald Buddha on Wikipedia
Find out more: Chao Phraya River on Wikipedia
Tags: emerald buddha temple, grand palace bangkok, thailand holiday, travel, travel insurance,
"Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author(s) and should not be taken asadvice for purchasing insurance ..."
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About Mark Carter
Mark is the Senior Manager Ecommerce at DirectAsia.com and is in lovewith family, meditation, reading and life in general!
The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
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The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/grand-palace-bangkok-and-temple-of-emerald-buddha/[14/06/2013 19:59:03]
