Temples of Bangkok Thailand

Temple Run in Bangkok

Wat Pho Temple or Wat Phra Chetuphon, famously known as the temple of the reclining Buddha. It is located at Chetuphone Road, behind the Grand Palace. While Wat Arun/Wat Chaeng or Temple of the Dawn is located next to the Grand Palace on the west side of the Chao Phraya River.

I recommend wearing a good pair of comfy shoes, cotton clothes (observed temple rules), 10 swipes of deodorant, sunglasses, huge bottled water, a hat/umbrella/a box/ a leaf/ a plywood/ a ceiling and another bottled water. Let's go!

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How to get to Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand

The Royalties of Bangkok

The temples had intricate designs in a wide variety of colors, and having seen all these enormous, golden artifacts powered up my passion for traveling. This is one of the reasons why I love to travel, to be able to see new wonders as it fills up my bucket list with endless anticipation.

We rode the taxi to the Grand Palace located at Phra Lan Road, Old City (Rattanakosin).
Taxi from Pratunam Market to Grand Palace Gate (meter taxi):50 BAHT

From the moment we stepped inside the gate the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or the Wat Phra Kaew viewed from the Outer Court of Grand Palace welcomed us with its magnificence.

Reminders:

They considered temples as sacred entities, so show some respect and avoid revealing clothes, covering those arms and legs. It actually pays off with that kind of dress code because it will protect your skin from the heat of the sun.

Main Entrance at the Phimanchaisri Gate

Coincidentally it was a holiday and people were everywhere, it was like a midnight sale at a supermarket. Families from all parts of the world were there, tour guides shouting and trying to keep everyone in the group as close as possible; reminding them at the same time to always look for the group’s banner. One group caught my eye instead of bringing the usual flag or a neon umbrella, they had this teddy bear up there, and I bet Mr Bean would be so devastated to see his friend up there. Even the trash bin looks nice so feel free to throw your rubbish and maintain cleanliness.

We headed to the main entrance at the Phimanchaisri Gate to buy our tickets that would lead us to the Middle Court of the Grand Palace Complex.

Opening hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Entrance Fee: 500 baht

These are the attractions inside Wat Phra Kaew Area:

The funny thing is the title "Temple Run" really suits this post considering it was really hot and we were running from one shade to another. Do not underestimate the heat in Bangkok, it stings, like seriously.

Hor Phra Rajphongsanusorn or the Ordination Hall

Hor Phra Rajphongsanusorn or the Ordination Hall designed with high pillars that seemed to touch the sky at Wat Phra Kaew.

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi or Golden Stupa

A few steps away the mouth-watering golden ice cream cone in-my-eyes-like temple of Phra Sri Ratana Chedi or Golden Stupa. A bell-like structure covered with a foil of gold at Wat Phra Kaew.

The colors of the temple were radiant against the blazing sun, and seeing the serene Lotus Flower along the stairs was refreshing for my strained eyes.

The Prangs

The Prangs looked like pale jade towers and I've also spotted some statues surrounding the temple area of the Emerald Buddha.

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi

A famous temple Phra Sri Ratana Chedi covered with foil gold in the inner Grand Palace, and beside the Gold Chedi is the Ornate Hall.

Ornate Hall

The Guardian Statues encircle the Base of a Gold Chedi at Wat Phra Kaew.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Buddhist Temple of Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Middle Court: The throne hall of Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat was in sight.

Phra Tinang Aporn Phimok Prasat Pavilion

Meanwhile, the temple with green roofs is the Phra Tinang Aporn Phimok Prasat Pavilion in the Grand Palace in Bangkok - Dusit Maha Prasat Hall

The Royal House

This gate is the Phra Thinang Boromphiman and it's not open to the public for this is where the Royal Family lives.

Have A Break

A few steps away was an oasis overflowing with chocolate flavor, it's a great thing they sell drinks at the end of the temple tour. We bought chocolate drinks at the royal booth for 45 BAHT; I heard they also served this to royals and I wondered if it's true.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall

One of the Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat groups, the Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, is a structure with a European twist that makes it look like you're in Europe. It is also the Royal's reception hall for important events.

Our grand palace tour ended with mind-blowing intricate hand-made artworks, shimmering varieties of golden temples and the blazing sun was overwhelming. It clearly shows how the people of Thailand are exceptionally creative and hardworking.

The fun never stops! So after we had our temple run completed we headed to Terminal 21 to relax. Then we resume the temple tours the next day. Read more: Bangkok, Thailand Itinerary.

Grand Palace to Terminal 21 Mall with Metered Taxi: 95 BAHT

Next Stop: How to get to Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok Thailand

The Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho Temple or Wat Phra Chetuphon, famously known as the temple of the reclining Buddha. It is located at Chetuphone Road, behind the Grand Palace. The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok. The temple is really not that strict with the dress code; they even provide cover-ups for people showing more skin, who want to see the reclining Buddha inside the temple.

How to get there

Southside of Grand Palace. Walk either left or right side of the Palace wall and the Wat Pho temple is just a few meters away. Keep in mind it's a walking distance from the Palace so no need to get a taxi. It's better to walk so you can buy some fruits or street foods along the way and avoid taxi drivers driving you in circles to get to the temple. Even worse, some drivers pass by shops where they encourage you to take a look and you lose precious time.

Wat Pho Entrance Fee: 100 baht

Interesting Find

As I entered the gate the cute behinds of two elephants greeted me. It was a funny sight and it only meant a good start for the day. The temple welcomes foreigners with open arms, they even provide cover-ups when you enter and a handy bag for your shoes. It's good to know that they want to avoid misplaced shoes and at the same time keep the place clean and organized. The gigantic reclining Buddha highlights the tourist spot at Wat Pho temple, the image of the Buddha is surprisingly striking.

No Shoes Allowed

When we entered the temple people were carrying loads of coins and one by one they dropped them in a caterpillar line of metallic pots. Then later I realized they were actually praying and it said that at the end of the line, they could make a wish. We never bothered to try it; I was just curious and seeing them do it was already entertaining to me. It reminded me of playing "sungka" which is an old game in the Philippines, where you drop a certain number of pebbles in a block of wood with 9 holes. There's a man-made waterfall and stone benches where you can hang around for a while and take a rest.

It was really hot and the temperature was draining all the fluids I had with me. Unfortunately, we missed one spot, the place where they have a collection of different Buddhas made with different materials. My mother and I hurried to see this giant Buddha that sat at the center of the temple and the other side was actually the temple we'd missed.

Next Stop: How to get to Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn:

Temple of the Dawn or Wat Arun/Wat Chaeng

Temple of the Dawn or Wat Arun/Wat Chaeng is located next to the Grand Palace on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. Wear proper dress code when you visit this temple, the same goes for Grand Palace to avoid renting clothes that are unnecessary for your budget list. Before we had our trip I'd already researched some places in Bangkok that people suggest being breathtaking. One place that describes beauty is seeing the sunset at the Wat Arun temple. I've always been a huge fan of sunset and having a part of it in my itinerary is a must.

How to get there

Take a taxi to the Tha Tien Pier on the Rattanakosin side. It's a walking distance away from the Grand Palace and Wat Pho Temple.

River Ferry one-way fare : 3 baht

Wat Arun Entrance Fee: 120 baht

Unique Souvenir

While we were at the Tha Tien Pier I looked around and found something unexpected. A different kind of slingshot was in store for 50 baht. It reminds me of my childhood days when I tagged along with my big brother or my cousins and we shot anything we found. I'm really not a shooter but they would always let me try and cheered when I've almost made the stonefly. Precious memories that make me smile once in a while. Read more: Souvenirs from Bangkok.

Wat Arun Temple

I peered into the gate and tried to see what exciting activities happening inside. I've observed that It's quite a long climb in the temple so better equip yourself with comfortable clothes and shoes. However, we were not wearing proper temple clothes, I thought they were not that strict just like in Wat Pho. Besides, we're running out of cash too much food trip last night is now haunting our day.

Unfortunately, my sunset moment in the temple did not happen as planned, yet, we had a relaxing time in the cafe just outside the temple. People were having coffee here while I watched the people from the temple's inclined stairs. Those people were striving hard to climb while maintaining their balance by holding on to the sides or on the edge of each step ahead of them. It's actually what I wanted to be doing at that very moment, but my companions were tired and just wanted to sit down. I'm exhausted as well yet I always have this energy if I put my mind to it.

Cute decorations are neatly placed around the cafe.

It wasn't that bad sitting around, We watched the day fade and let the shadows grow longer. The Chao Phraya River was still and serene when we decided to go back to the ferry terminal. Then the most unexpected thing happened, the one thing I wanted to see, the sunset as we sailed away. It's not exactly what I wanted but overall it's more than I expected. The Sunset along the Chao Phraya River, overlooking the Wat Arun Temple was exceptional. A brief moment of " ahh", "wow" and "hhmm" was all it took to take my disappointments away.

Sunset at the Chao Phraya River

Sometimes plans don't go accordingly, yet the most unforgettable moments are those that are not even on the checklist. I learned that you can either be upset or just laugh about it if plans go wrong. At the end of the day your plans still went wrong, so might as well just laugh about it. Good things follow if you're in a good mood.

Have fun and be safe ^__^

Do you want more adventure?

If you still have more days to spare then have an exciting day checking out these places :

Other Places To Visit in Thailand:

Where am I going next?
My next adventure is a Backpacking Trip in Cambodia and seeing the ruins of Angkor Wat.

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Temples of Bangkok Thailand

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