Bangkok, THAILAND
Photographs Copyright 2007 by Tom & Carol Dempsey. Last updated January 31, 2008. Buy any image.
Index to this page: Bangkok: canal boats & shrines , Grand Palace ( Temple of the Emerald Buddha , Thai government buildings ) , Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport , maps. Show Bangkok gallery 74 images.
Left: A long tail boat motors on Chao Phraya River, beneath a modern skyscraper with blue-green glass, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A long tail boat motors on Chao Phraya River, by a modern skyscraper and bridge, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Steel bowls of fast food in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: The Royal Barges National Museum is on Bangkok Noi Canal on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand. This royal barge is decorated with a sacred Garuda, Vishnu's bird mount, in Hindu-Buddhist mythology. Besides serving as the royal insignia, the Garuda is also the official seal of the civil government.
Below: A caretaker in a lifevest at Royal Barges National Museum on Bangkok Noi Canal.
Left: A man paddles a boat of bananas in a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A red and turquoise wooden boat floats in a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Our long tail boat passes a Buddhist monastery along a khlong (canal).
Below: An ornate gazebo in a Buddhist monastery.
Left: A wood house with ornate railings, along a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A wood house on a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A Buddhist temple on Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Another Buddhist temple on Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Wat Arun (or Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahavihara, "the Temple of the Dawn") is a buddhist temple (wat) on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. The prang (Khmer-style tower) symbolizes Mount Meru of the Indian cosmology, and the side prangs honor the wind god Phra Phai. They were started by Rama II in the early 1800's and completed by Rama III. The surrounding temple (originally known as Wat Makok, the Olive Temple) is much older, dating from the Ayuthaya period (1350 to 1767). The temple served as part of the palace of King Taksin, who reigned over Siam from 1768 to 1782 (just before the founding of Bangkok).
Below: The long propeller drive shafts of "long tail" boats stretch into a khlong (canal), in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A wall surrounds the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Visitors explore the visually rich Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand. The cylindrical dark gold building with many columns (on the left) is the Phra Mondop building, built by King Rama I in order to house the revised edition of the Buddhist Canon. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels, each one slightly different. At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style. Sixteen twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
Below: Two yaks guard the Grand Palace. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: King Rama I constructed the Phra Mondop building in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, in order to house the revised edition of the Buddhist Canon. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels, each one slightly different. At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style. Sixteen twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
Below: Yaks (fearsome giants) and five-headed naga serpents protect the Phra Mondop building, in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha.
Left: A yak guards a gilded chedi (or stupa). In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here with big upward fangs, guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A gilded chedi (or stupa) rises behind other ornate buildings at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Visitors walk through the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.)
Left: In the foreground is a decorative street light and an ancient model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The sunlit building in the rear is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building.
Below: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is an impressive complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The building in the background is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building.
Left: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is an amazing complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: The Royal Pantheon, called Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn in Thai, was built by King Rama IV, then destroyed by fire during the reign of King Rama V, then restored by King Rama VI. Originally built to house the Emerald Buddha, it proved too small. King Rama VI later dedicated it as the Royal Pantheon of the Chakri Dynasty, with exact life sized statues of each of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty inside. The building is only open to the public on one day a year, Chakri Day, April 6.
Below: The Royal Pantheon (Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn) is surrounded by some beautiful blue and gold detailed walls and columns.
Left: Next to a blue tarp restoration scaffolding stands a small perfect pavilion with six white columns and ornate orange, blue, and gold roof, in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: People explore the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Demons guard the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. An impressive blue tower rises in the background.
Below: This golden statue of a Thai thepnorasi has the upper body of a male angel, and the lower body of a lion (singha). This is one of the many mythical animals from the Himapan (or Himmapan, Himaphan in Thai), a legendary forest which includes a pantheon of amazing creatures and surrounds the base of Mount Meru in Hindu mythology of ancient India (where the mythic forest is called Himmavanta, Himavanta, or Himavamsa). This statue is within the shining complex of buildings known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Demons guard a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. To the left of the chedi is a golden winged statue of a kinnara.
Below: On the right, demons guard a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), a complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. To the left is a golden statue of a Thai thepnorasi, which has the upper body of a male angel, and the lower body of a lion (singha). This is one of the many mythical animals from the Himapan (or Himmapan, Himaphan in Thai), a legendary forest which includes a pantheon of amazing creatures and surrounds the base of Mount Meru in Hindu mythology of ancient India (where the mythic forest is called Himmavanta, Himavanta, or Himavamsa).
Left: A demon guards the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is an amazing complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A similar demon on the same gilded chedi (or stupa).
Left: This is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building, at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (original is in Cambodia).
Below: This is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building, one of the many buildings in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Above: The cruciform (cross shaped) Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall in Bangkok, Thailand, was built by King Rama I in 1790. Ever since then, this hall has hosted the lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony.
Left: This small pavilion at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is Aphorn Phimok Prasat, which was built entirely of wood by King Rama IV. Behind it is the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, built in 1882 (Bangkok's centenary celebration year), by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). The Chakri group of buildings now receives foreign ambassadors and serves banquets to visiting heads of State.
Below: In the background is the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, built in 1882 (Bangkok's centenary celebration year), by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). The Chakri group of buildings now receives foreign ambassadors and serves banquets to visiting heads of State. The small pavilion in the foreground is the Aphorn Phimok Prasat.
Left: This small pavilion (foreground) at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is Aphorn Phimok Prasat, which was built entirely of wood by King Rama IV. Behind the pavilion is the Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall, which was built by King Rama I in 1790, as a lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in the foreground.
Below: Behind the pavilion in the foreground (Aphorn Phimok Prasat) is the Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall, which was built by King Rama I in 1790, as a lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in the foreground.
Left: A topiary garden of sculpted living trees is maintained in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: The small gray building in the foreground is the Snamchand Pavilion. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand, was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. It served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century.
Above: The small gray building on the left is the Snamchand Pavilion. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in front of it. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand, was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I.
Left: Ornate roof lines in the Grand Palace.
Below: Gold flourishes complete many roof lines in the Grand Palace.
Below: Spires and roof lines in the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Golden fingers decorate this roof line in the Grand Palace.
Below: Two spectacular buildings in the Grand Palace.
Above: In October 2007, Buddhist monks stand by the impressive sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean, which measures about 30 meters wide and 5.5 meters high, too big for fire regulations, requiring it to be moved out of the Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport in 2008. The Churning of the Milk Ocean (or Sagar Manthan; Samudra Manthan; Samudra manthanam; or Ksheersagar manthan) is one of the most famous episodes in Sanskrit literature, appearing in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana. Demons and gods cooperate to churn the sea for thousands of years in order to bring forth missing treasures after the recreation of the universe, including the heavenly nectar of immortality (amrita). The King Power Group donated this 48-million-baht art sculpture to Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom” in Thai, meaning “The Golden Land”).
Left: Two men place the order at Starbucks Coffee store at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport, Thailand.
Left: A Buddhist monk and a woman stand by the colorful sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean (or Sagar Manthan; Samudra Manthan; Samudra manthanam; or Ksheersagar manthan), which is one of the most famous episodes in Sanskrit literature, appearing in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana.
Below: A Buddhist monk admires the intricate sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean.
Plants, gazebo and walkways decorate a pretty courtyard of the big Hotel Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Below: The lobby of Hotel Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport sparkles with this pointy star sculpture, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Map of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
Below: Map of Asia showing Bangkok, Thailand, Kathmandu, Nepal, Hong Kong and China.
Left: A yak with big fangs and a big stick guards the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology). (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; and a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.)
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. It served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century.
Below: In the background is Wat Pho (or Wat Po), the oldest and largest wat (Buddhist temple or monastery) in Bangkok, with the longest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. Wat Pho is located outside the south wall of the Grand Palace.
In the foreground is a three-wheeled tuk-tuk, the Southeast Asian version of a vehicle known elsewhere as an auto rickshaw or cabin cycle. The tuk-tuk is widely used as urban transport here in Bangkok (and other Thai cities, as well as other major Southeast Asian and South Asian cities).
Left: A long tail boat motors on Chao Phraya River, beneath a modern skyscraper with blue-green glass, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below:
Demon at the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the
Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings
within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The Grand
Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand,
was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782,
during the reign of Rama I. It served as the official residence of the
king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century.
Left: Demons guard the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of
the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Above right: The tuk-tuk is the Southeast Asian version of a vehicle known
elsewhere as an auto rickshaw or cabin cycle. The tuk-tuk is widely
used as urban transport here in Bangkok (and other Thai cities, as well
as other major Southeast Asian and South Asian cities).
On October 18 2007, Carol and I photographed fascinating Bangkok, on our way to a spectacular month in Nepal. With an overnight stopover in Bangkok, we were able to do the following in half a day:- slept at the very nice Hotel Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport, and rode a taxi into town for sightseeing
- spontaneously hired a private long tail boat tour to see Buddhist temples along the Chao Phraya river and a side canal (khlong / klong)
- walked through the aptly named Grand Palace, which includes the rich complex of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
- ate good basic Thai food at Rub Aroon restaurant, across from the oldest & biggest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho
- Jet lag: Bangkok time is Seattle Standard Time +15 hours.
Bangkok canal boats and shrines
Left: A long tail boat motors on Chao Phraya River, by a modern skyscraper and bridge, in Bangkok, Thailand.Below: Steel bowls of fast food in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: The Royal Barges National Museum is on Bangkok Noi Canal on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand. This royal barge is decorated with a sacred Garuda, Vishnu's bird mount, in Hindu-Buddhist mythology. Besides serving as the royal insignia, the Garuda is also the official seal of the civil government.
Below: A caretaker in a lifevest at Royal Barges National Museum on Bangkok Noi Canal.
Left: A man paddles a boat of bananas in a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A red and turquoise wooden boat floats in a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Our long tail boat passes a Buddhist monastery along a khlong (canal).
Below: An ornate gazebo in a Buddhist monastery.
Left: A wood house with ornate railings, along a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A wood house on a khlong (canal), Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A Buddhist temple on Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Another Buddhist temple on Chao Phraya River, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Wat Arun (or Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahavihara, "the Temple of the Dawn") is a buddhist temple (wat) on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. The prang (Khmer-style tower) symbolizes Mount Meru of the Indian cosmology, and the side prangs honor the wind god Phra Phai. They were started by Rama II in the early 1800's and completed by Rama III. The surrounding temple (originally known as Wat Makok, the Olive Temple) is much older, dating from the Ayuthaya period (1350 to 1767). The temple served as part of the palace of King Taksin, who reigned over Siam from 1768 to 1782 (just before the founding of Bangkok).
Below: The long propeller drive shafts of "long tail" boats stretch into a khlong (canal), in Bangkok, Thailand.
Grand Palace
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)
The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand, was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. The Grand Palace served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a stunning complex of Buddhist historical buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace.Left: A wall surrounds the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Visitors explore the visually rich Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand. The cylindrical dark gold building with many columns (on the left) is the Phra Mondop building, built by King Rama I in order to house the revised edition of the Buddhist Canon. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels, each one slightly different. At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style. Sixteen twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
Left: This golden yak (fearsome giant) statue guards the Phra Mondop building in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. King Rama I constructed the Phra Mondop building in order to house the revised edition of the
Buddhist Canon. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green
mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base
of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels,
each one slightly different. At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are
stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style. Sixteen
twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
Below: Two yaks guard the Grand Palace. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: King Rama I constructed the Phra Mondop building in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, in order to house the revised edition of the Buddhist Canon. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha. The base of the walls are lined with two rows of small gilded guardian angels, each one slightly different. At the four corners of the Phra Mondop are stone Buddhas carved in the ninth century Javanese style. Sixteen twelve-cornered columns support the intricate multi-tier roof.
Below: Yaks (fearsome giants) and five-headed naga serpents protect the Phra Mondop building, in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The walls of the Phra Mondop are covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha.
Left: A yak guards a gilded chedi (or stupa). In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here with big upward fangs, guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: A gilded chedi (or stupa) rises behind other ornate buildings at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: Visitors walk through the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology), seen here guarding the temple grounds. (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.)
Left: In the foreground is a decorative street light and an ancient model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The sunlit building in the rear is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building.
Below: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is an impressive complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. The building in the background is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building.
Left: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is an amazing complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (the original is in Cambodia), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: The Royal Pantheon, called Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn in Thai, was built by King Rama IV, then destroyed by fire during the reign of King Rama V, then restored by King Rama VI. Originally built to house the Emerald Buddha, it proved too small. King Rama VI later dedicated it as the Royal Pantheon of the Chakri Dynasty, with exact life sized statues of each of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty inside. The building is only open to the public on one day a year, Chakri Day, April 6.
Below: The Royal Pantheon (Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn) is surrounded by some beautiful blue and gold detailed walls and columns.
Left: Next to a blue tarp restoration scaffolding stands a small perfect pavilion with six white columns and ornate orange, blue, and gold roof, in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: People explore the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Demons guard the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. An impressive blue tower rises in the background.
Below: This golden statue of a Thai thepnorasi has the upper body of a male angel, and the lower body of a lion (singha). This is one of the many mythical animals from the Himapan (or Himmapan, Himaphan in Thai), a legendary forest which includes a pantheon of amazing creatures and surrounds the base of Mount Meru in Hindu mythology of ancient India (where the mythic forest is called Himmavanta, Himavanta, or Himavamsa). This statue is within the shining complex of buildings known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Demons guard a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. To the left of the chedi is a golden winged statue of a kinnara.
Below: On the right, demons guard a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), a complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. To the left is a golden statue of a Thai thepnorasi, which has the upper body of a male angel, and the lower body of a lion (singha). This is one of the many mythical animals from the Himapan (or Himmapan, Himaphan in Thai), a legendary forest which includes a pantheon of amazing creatures and surrounds the base of Mount Meru in Hindu mythology of ancient India (where the mythic forest is called Himmavanta, Himavanta, or Himavamsa).
Left: A demon guards the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is an amazing complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: A similar demon on the same gilded chedi (or stupa).
Left: This is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building, at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. In the foreground is a model of Angkor Wat (original is in Cambodia).
Below: This is the Hor Phra Monthian Dharma building, one of the many buildings in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Government buildings
Above: The cruciform (cross shaped) Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall in Bangkok, Thailand, was built by King Rama I in 1790. Ever since then, this hall has hosted the lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony.
Left: This small pavilion at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is Aphorn Phimok Prasat, which was built entirely of wood by King Rama IV. Behind it is the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, built in 1882 (Bangkok's centenary celebration year), by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). The Chakri group of buildings now receives foreign ambassadors and serves banquets to visiting heads of State.
Below: In the background is the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, built in 1882 (Bangkok's centenary celebration year), by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). The Chakri group of buildings now receives foreign ambassadors and serves banquets to visiting heads of State. The small pavilion in the foreground is the Aphorn Phimok Prasat.
Left: This small pavilion (foreground) at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is Aphorn Phimok Prasat, which was built entirely of wood by King Rama IV. Behind the pavilion is the Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall, which was built by King Rama I in 1790, as a lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in the foreground.
Below: Behind the pavilion in the foreground (Aphorn Phimok Prasat) is the Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall, which was built by King Rama I in 1790, as a lying-in-state of kings, queens and honored members of the royal family. It also supports the annual Coronation Day ceremony. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in the foreground.
Left: A topiary garden of sculpted living trees is maintained in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Below: The small gray building in the foreground is the Snamchand Pavilion. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand, was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. It served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century.
Above: The small gray building on the left is the Snamchand Pavilion. A topiary garden of sculpted living trees grows in front of it. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) in Bangkok, Thailand, was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I.
Left: Ornate roof lines in the Grand Palace.
Below: Gold flourishes complete many roof lines in the Grand Palace.
Below: Spires and roof lines in the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.
Left: Golden fingers decorate this roof line in the Grand Palace.
Below: Two spectacular buildings in the Grand Palace.
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport is a huge, well designed modern airport which opened in 2006, in Thailand. We enjoyed the airport's roomy, spotless hallways, and attractive Thai interior and exterior design. Suvarnabhumi is pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom” and means “The Golden Land”.Above: In October 2007, Buddhist monks stand by the impressive sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean, which measures about 30 meters wide and 5.5 meters high, too big for fire regulations, requiring it to be moved out of the Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport in 2008. The Churning of the Milk Ocean (or Sagar Manthan; Samudra Manthan; Samudra manthanam; or Ksheersagar manthan) is one of the most famous episodes in Sanskrit literature, appearing in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana. Demons and gods cooperate to churn the sea for thousands of years in order to bring forth missing treasures after the recreation of the universe, including the heavenly nectar of immortality (amrita). The King Power Group donated this 48-million-baht art sculpture to Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom” in Thai, meaning “The Golden Land”).
Left: Two men place the order at Starbucks Coffee store at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport, Thailand.
Above: Buddhist monks in orange robes and sandals stand next to a store in the Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport.
Left: A Buddhist monk and a woman stand by the colorful sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean (or Sagar Manthan; Samudra Manthan; Samudra manthanam; or Ksheersagar manthan), which is one of the most famous episodes in Sanskrit literature, appearing in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana.
Below: A Buddhist monk admires the intricate sculpture of the Churning of the Milk Ocean.
Plants, gazebo and walkways decorate a pretty courtyard of the big Hotel Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Below: The lobby of Hotel Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport sparkles with this pointy star sculpture, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Maps
Left: Map of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
Below: Map of Asia showing Bangkok, Thailand, Kathmandu, Nepal, Hong Kong and China.
Left: A yak with big fangs and a big stick guards the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, a yak is a giant demon (or ogre, colossus, monster, titan) from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana epic mythology). (In India, a yaksha male can sometimes be a fearsome warrior; and a yakshi/yashini female is usually a benevolent nature spirit.)
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace (or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, in Thai) was built on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River starting in 1782, during the reign of Rama I. It served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century.
Below: In the background is Wat Pho (or Wat Po), the oldest and largest wat (Buddhist temple or monastery) in Bangkok, with the longest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. Wat Pho is located outside the south wall of the Grand Palace.
In the foreground is a three-wheeled tuk-tuk, the Southeast Asian version of a vehicle known elsewhere as an auto rickshaw or cabin cycle. The tuk-tuk is widely used as urban transport here in Bangkok (and other Thai cities, as well as other major Southeast Asian and South Asian cities).
Index to this page: Bangkok: canal boats & shrines , Grand Palace ( Temple of the Emerald Buddha , Thai government buildings ) , Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport , maps. Show Bangkok gallery 74 images.