A must see, the fabulous Grand
Palace is exquisitely decorated
with gold and glass which literally dazzle in the sun. Bangkok's
most famous landmark was built 1782. The palace complex is laid out
following the general outline of Ayutthaya
palaces. The Central Court,
near where one enter the complex today, housed the government departments in
which the King was directly involved, such as civil administration, including
the army, and the treasury. The Wat Phra Kaeo takes up one corner of the
complex next to the outer court.
In the middle is the Central Court
where the residence of the King and the halls for conducting state business
were located. One is permitted to look at the fronts of the buildings in the
central court, but only two of the throne rooms are open to the public, and
only on weekdays.
Behind the central court was the inner court. This was where
the king's royal consorts and daughters lived. The inner court was like a small
city entirely populated by women and boys under the age of puberty. Even though
no royalty currently reside in the inner court, it is still completely closed
off to the public.
Vimanek Museum
One of those great old wooden houses built by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at
a time when teak forests covered large parts of southeast Asia. It's the
biggest wooden building made from golden teak in the world and contains more
than 80 rooms, lots of winding staircases, beautiful Thai, Khmer, Burmese, and
Western artifacts, and exquisitely carved teak and mahogany furniture. A former
royal residence, it was recently renovated by Queen Sirikit, and transformed
into a museum commemorating the late King. As well as antique furniture, the
museum displays glassware, porcelain, old photographs and memorabilia from the
late King's reign from 1868 to 1910. Parts of Vimanmek are still used for
various state functions and receptions for visiting royalty, when the buildings
are closed to the public.