Today, we will take the whole day to explore Bangkok – the city of golden temples.
The first destination is the Grand Palace. This huge architecture complex is over 2 sq. kilometers, including 3 main sites: Royal Palace, Royal Office and pagodas (Wat) built in 1770s. Nowadays, the Grand Palace is no longer home of Thailand Royal, most of national significant events takes place there. Wat Phra Kaew is the most out-standing architecture in complex, built in 1785 when King Rama I moved the capital to Bangkok.
Wat Pra Kaew is famous not only for its beauty of unique Thailand Buddhism architecture but also for the sacred jade Buddha statue. Thai people believe that the statue will bring back fortune and prosperity for the nation.
Nearby Grand Palace is Wat Pho – the oldest and biggest pagoda in Bangkok with more than 1000 Buddha statues and the huge one sit-back Buddha in gold. This pagoda is also famous for being a birthplace of traditional Thai massage, since there is a traditional medicine school established in 1982, educating the arts of Thai massage.
The Wat Pho wall-surrounded complex was divided into 2 by Soi Chetuphon running along East – West. The Northern complex is the one including the in gold Buddha statue and massage school mentioned above. The Southern complex, Tukgawee, is a monastery and a school.
Next, we visit Wat Traimit. This pagoda is famous for its unique and historic beauty, and also for the huge golden Buddha statue. Thai people believe that the statue represents for prosperity and purity, as well as strength and power. The Golden Statue was defined to be built in Sukhothai period, the 13-15th century – one of the most famous periods of Thai Buddhism architecture.
Lunch by your own account.
In the afternoon, we will board on a boat to pay a visit along the Chao Phraya River, watching the life of local people close by. On route, we stop at Wat Arun, known as the most beautiful pagoda in Bangkok not only for its location on the Chao Phraya’s riverbank but also for the different architecture from other pagodas. “Arun” means sunrise, but it is most beautiful in the sunset. The pagoda was decorated with glass pieces and Chinese ceramic, in a complicated style. You can climb up to the top of Wat Arun to see Chao Phraya, Grand Palace and Wat Pho at the opposite side.
Return to the hotel and you are free to explore Bangkok by night.
Accommodation: At the hotel in Bangkok
Meal: Breakfast