Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

72 ❯❯ Bangkok Area by Area

The Best of the Rest

Wat Mahathat
Wat Ratchabophit
1 5
This royal temple today
The design of this
temple is based on the serves as the headquarters
circular chedi (stupa) at of Mahachulalongkorn
Nakhon Pathom. The Buddhist University and
highlights include inlay is home to the respected
work on the doors and Vipassana Meditation
win dows of the bot Center (see p44).
(ordination hall), and
National Gallery
colorful tiles in the 6
cloisters (see p45). MAP C3 • 4 Chao
Fa Road • 02 281 2224
Bamrung
2 Wat Ratchabophit • Open 9am–4pm
Inlay work at
Muang Road
Wed–Sun • Adm
MAP D4 Located in a building that
Originally an elephant trail, this once housed the Royal Mint, this is
was one of the first roads to be Bangkok’s principal art gallery. It
paved in Bangkok. Its shops sell features the work of estab lished
temple necessities such as monks’ and emerging Thai artists.
robes, candles, incense, and
Khao San Road
Buddha images. 7
MAP C3
Museum of Siam
3 Besides several budget guesthouses,
this bustling backpacker’s ghetto has
MAP C5 • Sanam Chai Road
• 02 225 2777 • Open 10am–6pm a variety of souvenir shops, market
Tue–Sun • Adm • www.museum stalls, and restaurants.
siam.org
Wat Bowoniwet
Spread over three floors, this 8
museum has fascinating interactive MAP C2 • 240 Phra Sumen
exhibits that explore Thai history Road • 02 280 0869 • Open 8am–
and culture, Buddhism, and more. 5pm daily • www.watbowon.org
The base of the Tammayut sect of
Phra Sumen Fort
4 Buddhism, this temple has some
MAP C2 • Phra Athit Road
striking murals (see p44).
This octagonal brick-and-stucco fort,
Loha Prasat and Wat
one of 14 watchtowers, was built in 9
1783 to defend the city from attack. Ratchanadda
MAP D3 • 2 Maha Chai Road • 02
Phra Sumen 224 8807 • Open 9am–5pm daily
Fort The Loha Prasat (or “iron castle”)
is a stepped, seven-tiered pyramid
with 37 metal spires. Its grounds
are shared with Wat Ratchanadda.
King Prajadhipok (Rama
0
VII) Museum
MAP D3 • 2 Lan Luang Road • 02
280 3413 • Open 9am–4pm Tue–
Sun • Adm
This state-of-the-art museum
looks at the events of 1925–35, which
included the tran sition of Siam from
absolute to cons titutional monarchy.
Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Two-column, 8.5pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v.1.9)
072-073_Top_10_Bangkok.indd 72 22/05/2017 12:13
Date 24th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm