Page 71 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

Old City ❮❮ 69

Sanam Luang
Lak Muang
1 4
MAP C4 • Corner of
MAP B3 • Na Phra Lan Road
Considering Bangkok’s congested Ratchadamnoen and Lak Muang
streets and high-rise buildings, it is roads • Open 8:30am–5:30pm daily
amazing that a large open area such This shrine houses the city pillar
as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field, of Bangkok, erected by Rama I in
could exist at all. Its import ance for 1782 and believed to contain the
certain royal ceremonies, such as city’s guar dian spirit, Jao Pho Lak
cremation rites of royalty, guarantee Muang. Also in the shrine is
that this precious patch of land will the city pillar of Thonburi, now part
never be developed into offices or of Greater Bangkok. Both pillars are
malls. From February to April, made of wood with lotus-shaped
people fly kites here, and fortune crowns and are painted gold. Lak
tellers ply their trade. Muang is always busy with devotees.
National Museum
2
Located near the northern end
of Rattanakosin Island, the National
Museum (see pp16–17) is the
repository of significant Thai art. Its
huge size reflects the depth of Thai
artistic achievement. Exhibits range
from Dvaravati sculptures over 1,000
years old, to lavish funeral chariots,
and the delight ful Buddhaisawan
Chapel, which houses the Phra
Sihing Buddha image, considered
second in import ance only to the
Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaeo.
City pillars at Lak Muang
Grand Palace and
3 Wat Pho
Wat Phra Kaeo
Officially Wat Phra Chetuphon,
In the center of Rattanakosin Island, 5
the huge complex that contains the this is Bangkok’s oldest and largest
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo is temple and a welcoming center of
one of Asia’s unforgettable sights. It learning, particularly of the massage
is the best place for an intro duction tech niques for which it is famous.
to Thai architecture and art. While While Wat Phra Kaeo impresses with
the palace is strongly influenced by bejeweled monu ments, Wat Pho’s
Italian Renaissance architecture, the charms are more subtle. The main
temple complex is totally Thai, from attraction is the 150-ft (46-m) long
the towering bot (ordination hall) that Reclining Buddha that fills a wihan
holds the Emerald Buddha to the (assembly hall) in the compound’s
slender lines of the Phra Si Rattana northwest corner, but it can be
Chedi and the Ramakien murals just as much fun exploring
that decorate the gal leries on all quieter corners of the grounds
sides (see pp12–15). and chatting with the monks,
school children, and massage
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo practitioners (see pp18–19).

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