The Grand Palace in Bangkok was the home of the king and his court as well as the entire administrative seat of Bangkok 150 years back. The country's war ministry, state departments as well as the mint was within this palace. But now the complex only remains as the spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom.

The palace follows the general outline of the Ayutthaya palaces. The outer court of the palace, which is now the entrance, used to be the government departments in which the king was directly involved such as civil administration, army and treasury. At one corner, the temple of the Emerald Buddha is situated. In the middle there is the central court where the residence of the king and the halls for conducting state business were located. Behind the central court was the inner court. This was where the king's royal consorts and daughters lived. The inner court was like a small city entirely populated by women and boys under the age of puberty. Even though no royalty currently reside in the inner court, it is still completely closed off to the public.

The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30 to 3:30, unless it is being used for a state function. While the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace grounds are open every day when not being used for state functions, the audience halls in the Grand Palace are closed on weekends.

Getting to the Grand Palace is quite easy by boat. A Chaophraya express boat to the Chang Pier and then a short walk will leave at the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace is a must see for all visitors to Bangkok. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is indisputably one of the wonders of the world today. Within its enormous grounds is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the temple itself is a marvelous Buddha image, carved from one piece of Jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today.

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