Don't go to Bangkok and miss the Grand Palace, and in particular the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.These are truly wonderful places, with a power that will deeply affect you.

1. 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 the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
A trip to the Grand Palace and the Holiest Temple in Thailand
Stunning! Absolutely stunning! On rare occasions in life you experience something so
impressive 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 went
beyond all expectations – it’s simply magnificent.
I was on a business trip to Bangkok, and needed to stay over the weekend, so this provided
an ideal opportunity to see more of what this amazing city had to offer. Out of all the sites of
interest around, which one should I see? Well, Thailand’s most revered temple seemed the
obvious answer.
I took a taxi through Bangkok’s dense traffic after my lunch, mindful that entrance to the Grand
Palace complex ends at 3.30pm. I was dropped off at an entrance, but was told that this
entrance was for Thai’s, and that I had to walk round to another gateway. I brushed aside my
feelings of confusion over why they’d do this, and followed the high walls to find the other
entrance, with 40 degrees of heat, clear blue sky and the sun beating down on me.
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2. 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 Impressions
So what was my first impression when inside the Grand Palace? (Phra Borom Maha Ratcha
Wang) – Hordes of tourists! One thing is for sure – you are not going to feel lonely here! It was
wall to wall people, though I suspect that it might be less busy on a weekday. It seemed that
half 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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3. 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 to
return to them afterwards if I have time left, and headed for the temples. A 500 Baht fee
secured my entrance. In retrospect I should have also bought sun block and a water bottle
whilst I had a chance as well as my ticket!

4. 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 golden
spires, all reaching up into the azure blue sky. It really was a case of where should I look and
what 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 I
consciously stopped to really look and allow myself to fully absorb each building in turn. A
mass of exquisite carvings embellished each, with statues and figures protecting each sacred
space.

5. 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 magnificent
contrast, it’s simplicity really standing out. Housing ashes of the historical Buddha, the stupa
form itself symbolises the Enlightenment of the Buddha, with the various levels of attainment
symbolically represented in features of the architecture.

6. 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 Buddha
Onto the Temple of the Emerald Buddha itself (Wat Phra Kaew), and this is where the biggest
crowds were gathered. My eye was drawn to a group of young monks about to enter the
Temple, children all, but calm and still amongst the activity all around them.

7. 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 glanced
upon 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 capture
the perfection of peace and contentment so well.

8. 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 revered
shrine. The Emerald Buddha itself was perched high above me, on elaborate layers of
platforms surrounded by protective figures. Smaller than I imagined, it nevertheless radiated a

9. 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 the
shouting from large groups of visitors, which was noticeably from one particular culture! It didn’t
seem to matter that this was a holy place – they seemed almost oblivious of appropriate ways
to behave in such a place! Nevertheless, sweat and noise melted away, as an extraordinary
peacefulness pervaded the room, despite appearances.
You are not allowed to take a photo of the Emerald Buddha, unlike the rest of the temples and
shrines, so I’ve included a stock photo below.
I explored the rest of the temple complex, marvelling at the energy given off by the figures
supporting some of the structures.

10. 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 of
outer walls. Depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the imagery resonated somewhere deep
within me, immersing me in their mythic struggles and story.
Some of the faces were simply beyond beautiful, and their look was quite haunting. They were
possessed of such a presence that it was as if the events unfolded before me, and I was part
of and surrounded by the story.

11. 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 felt
full 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

12. 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 the
same spiritual depth as the temples, so I guess my time with them was lesser in both duration
and 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. A
warning to the wise – beware of people coming round offering your special trips and
unbeatable offers – there’s a whole industry of people who target tourists with con acts. Better
safe than sorry! They say ‘if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is’ and that is
certainly the case with this.
A Boat Ride up the Chao Phraya River
So how do you round off such an intense set of sights and experiences? Just nearby is the
mighty Chao Phraya river, so I walked the short distance, and queued for the boat ride back to
my hotel. For a mere 20 Baht I took a leisurely 25 minute ride up this magnificent river, and
allowed my mind to absorb all that I’d seen and felt that afternoon.

13. 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 which
touched me deeply. If you are faint of heart you might find the sheer mass of tourists and noise
anything from distracting to positively off-putting. Other than that, I cannot find any negatives

14. 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 the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha in particular if you have a chance – I’m sure you won’t be
disappointed.
Lastly, whether you’re on business trip or holiday in Bangkok, remember to get travel
insurance 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 as
advice for purchasing insurance ..."
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About Mark Carter
Mark is the Senior Manager Ecommerce at DirectAsia.com and is in love
with family, meditation, reading and life in general!

15. The Grand Palace Bangkok, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
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16. 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]