The Royal Grand Palace

Address	Na Phralan Road, Phra Nakhon District
Location	Bangkok
Transportation	BUS 1 3 6 9 15 19 25 30 32 33 39 43 44 47 53 59 60 64 65 70 80 82 91 123 201 203 AC1 AC6 AC7 AC8 AC12 AC25 AC38 AC39 AC44 mAC8 BOAT Chao Phraya Express: Tha Chang Pier
Admission	Included with fee to Wat Phra Kaeo
Hours	Daily 8am-4pm
Phone	224 3328, 226 0255

A trip to Thailand is not complete without a visit to the Royal Grand Palace. This architectural wonder is worth every effort. Taking up almost an entire city block, the palace is an ornate compound with three sections:

• The Outer Palace (Phra Ratchathan Chan Nok) on the north
• The Middle Palace (Phra Ratchathan Chan Klang) at the east
• The Inner Palace (Phra Ratchathan Chan Nai) to the west

The grand palace was build when King Rama I decided to move the capital city from the west bank of the Chao Phraya River to the Eastern side of the river. He also decided the palace to be built as not only his residence, but also to house his offices and various ministries.

Within just three years, this grand marvel was built, including a temple located within the compound. It is nearly identical to the palace in the former capital. This palace has an area of 218,400 sq. meters and is surrounded by walls built in 1782. The length of the four walls is 1,900 meters. Within these walls are government offices and the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha in addition to the royal residences.

When traveling to the Grand Palace, be sure to pay respect to the Buddhist culture. Proper dress is required. Men cannot wear shorts or slippers. Women cannot wear undershirts, singlets, shorts and sandals. Taking photos inside the building is also not allowed. If you travel on a Sunday, you will also see many worshippers and Buddhist monks roaming around the grounds.