If there was one place that was at the top of my “must visit” list in Bangkok, it was most certainly the Grand Palace along the Chao Phraya River. As someone who enjoys reading about royal history and royal families, it should come to no surprise that the Grand Palace was an absolute requirement for my first visit to Bangkok. Despite visiting Bangkok a few times before, the beau had never set foot inside the Grand Palace either, so this was going to be a new adventure for the both of us. We were both eager to be captivated by the Grand Palace’s notorious beauty.
The Grand Palace is one of the most iconic symbols of Thailand. Along with all of Thailand, the Grand Palace is surrounded by so much incredible history, even if you would not call yourself a lover of history or a history buff like myself. Standing tall alongside the busy river, with towering golden spires that glow in the warm sun, the expansive palace has an incredibly peaceful demeanor to it despite being the most visited tourist spot in the country. It’s a breathtaking sight to behold, both from a distance and up close.
If you’re like me and like to do a lot of research before your travels, you’d find that every single recommendation regarding visiting the Grand Palace says to visit as early in the day as possible. This is for two reasons – blistering midday heat and large, immense crowds. As I mentioned earlier, the Grand Palace is the most visited destination within Thailand, and so crowds are to be expected year round. No matter what time of day you go, the palace will be busy. However, the crowds are not as intense first thing in the morning, and the strong sun isn’t quite as brutal either.
Since the Grand Palace did not open until 8:30 am, we visited another temple nearby that opened earlier before walking over to the palace. It’s a good thing I had read up on visiting the Grand Palace beforehand because I knew what to do when we were approached by “tour guides” claiming the palace was closed. This is a common tactic found around the palace, with “guides” telling you the palace is closed until 2 pm and then encouraging you to come on a tour around the city with them for money before bringing you back to the palace. Just so you know, the Grand Palace is generally open every day except for certain holidays or royal events. IF the palace is closed, the information will be on the Grand Palace’s official website. I knew the palace was open, and so we kept walking towards the entrance, but the “guides” kept yelling after us that the palace was closed. We refused to interact, which actually pissed them off, but we kept walking and eventually they gave up.
Upon arrival at the palace, which was just after 9 am and only 30 minutes after opening, the grounds were already abuzz with visitors. Tour groups, families, and couples like us had already descended on the impressive palace, but luckily there were brief moments of peace in certain spots before the next group would make their way over. Unlike palaces of Europe, the Grand Palace is made up of many buildings throughout the complex.
The Grand Palace began construction in the 18th century during the reign of King Rama I, the first ruler of the Chakri dynasty. As monarch, he established a new capital city (Bangkok) and was determined to make a larger palace than the previous royal residence in Thonburi across the Chao Phraya River. Initially, the palace was made of wood due to low funds, but over the years he began having the wooden structures replaced with bricks and masonry from dismantled royal residences north of Bangkok. His son, King Rama II, expanded the palace grounds southwards during his reign, which completes the official Grand Palace grounds today. With four courts and numerous buildings within the walled grounds, the Grand Palace feels like a royal city within a city.
As someone who is a student of history, something I love doing whenever I visit a royal palace is to essentially time travel in mind through the many years that the structures have existed. As I walk along the elegant floors of the Grand Palace or make my way from building to building, I can’t help but imagine what it was like for members of the royal family to walk along the same path 200 years ago. I envision the king and his entourage walking towards the temple for daily prayer. I can imagine the queen and her ladies walking across the palace grounds to greet her children. I imagine the many people that gathered inside the palace walls to witness the coronations of each monarch, and I imagine the many dinners shared amongst the royal family in the private residence. While the royal family no longer officially resides at the Grand Palace anymore (they now choose to reside at the more private Dusit Palace just 5 minutes away), it is still used for royal functions such as coronations, dinners, and other major royal events.
If you ever find yourself in Bangkok, do take the time to visit the Grand Palace. Early in the morning is best for temperatures and crowds, but during the evening the palace exudes a gorgeous glow as the sun makes its way towards the horizon. The golden spires cannot be missed when you’re near the palace, and the delicate details in the colorful tiles and intricately designed statues are worth another visit even if you have already been. There’s so much of the palace grounds to see, so I am sure I will be back again to see more that I missed the first time around.
PS Buy your tickets in advance at the link here. Yes you have to create an account, but it will save you so much time that you’ll practically walk right into the palace and not have to wait in any lengthy queue. Trust me on this!
