The Glorious Grand Palace of Bangkok

The beautiful Thai architecture of the Grand Palace is a lavish expression of the aura of the Thai Chakri kingdom. The Buddhist faith is front and center in the Grand Palace, as it has always enjoyed the royal patronage that continues to this day. Throughout the history of Siam, the Grand Palace has been the very symbol of the Chakri dynasty’s royal authority. The earliest buildings have served as the official royal residence since the 18th century, when Rama I came to power and ruled Siam.



The sheer size of the Grand Palace shows its significance. Currently spanning an area of 218,000 square meters, the Grand Palace consists of four sections that are of tourist interest. The crenellated walls alone measure 19,000 meters in length.

The most visited section of the Grand Palace is the royal temple section. The single most crowded spot in the Grand Palace is the Emerald Buddha at Phra Ubosot. It is considered an object of national veneration in Thailand. The Emerald Buddha acquired its name because of its color, not because it is made of emerald. Carved from a block of jasper, the Buddha is believed to be of northern Thai craftsmanship of the 15th century. There are three raiment of the Buddha, periodically changed on specified dates on the lunar calendar.

King Rama I dedicated the summer and rainy season raiment, and King Rama III dedicated the winter raiment. These raiment’s are carved in gold and embellished with diamonds and precious gems. The Emerald Buddha’s religious and national significance notwithstanding, its exquisiteness itself is worth a visit. Indeed, Buddhism thrived under the first three kings of the Chakri dynasty, who were all devout Buddhists.




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Post by Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal) | Mar 17, 2025