Bangkok City Tour Full Day Private

Our English Speaking guide will meet you at your Bangkok City Area Hotel at 9am.

Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)

At one end of Chinatown, in what was once an otherwise unremarkable temple of Wat Traimit, sits the world's largest solid gold Buddha image. Made of about 83% pure gold and weighing in at five and a half tons, the 15-foot tall seated image is worth millions of dollars at today's gold prices. The image has a colorful history, which is recounted in a free pamphlet distributed with your paid admission. The Golden Buddha was cast sometime in the 13th century and is an excellent example of the gracious Sukhothai style that is still very much in favor to this day. At some point, it was covered in plaster and lacquer, most likely in an attempt to hide the valuable icon from thieves or looters. The disguise was so good that everyone apparently forgot about what was hidden beneath. A member of King Rama III's court had the statue moved to Bangkok and installed in a temple near where the Oriental Hotel is today. That temple fell into disuse and was completely abandoned around 1931.

The Grand Palace

Located at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, the Grand Palace was a former residence for King Rama I to King Rama V of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. Today, the place is used for hosting royal ceremonies and welcoming the king’s guests, State guests, and other foreign dignitaries. It is also a place where remains of kings and high-ranked members of the royal family were situated before cremation. The Grand Palace is divided into two main zones, which are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the royal residence. The latter is divided into three major areas: the Outer Court, the Middle Court, and the Inner Court. The Outer Court starts from Wiset Chai Si Gate to Phiman Chai Si Gate and includes the inner walls of the Grand Palace. It is now the location of several state offices such as the Bureau of the Royal Household, Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, and the Office of the Royal Institute. The Middle Court starts from Phiman Chai Si Gate to Sanam Ratchakit Gate. The area is where significant royal ceremonies are held such as the Royal Coronation and the Royal Ceremony of Coronation Day. Situated in the Middle Court area are the Phra Maha Monthien Buildings, the Chakri Maha Prasat Buildings, the Phra Maha Prasat Buildings, and the Siwalai Gardens quarter. The Inner Court starts from Sanam Ratchakit Gate to Thaew Teng, the row houses which were formerly palace walls during the reign of King Rama I. The southern area of the Inner Court was then a female-only zone; no man except for the king was allowed to get into the area, where the queens, consorts, consort mothers, and daughters of the king lived together with many ladies-in-waiting and servants. The area no longer served as a residence nowadays.