A Day in Bangkok"
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
"A Day in Bangkok" Criado por : Cityseeker 14 Localizações indicadas Wat Traimit "Home of the Golden Buddha" Also known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha, Wat Traimit is home to one of the world's largest solid gold Buddha statues. This statue is three meters (10 feet) tall and is made of five and a half tons (5,500 kilograms) of gold. It was rediscovered by accident in 1957. The 13th-century Sukhothai style Buddha had been brought to Bangkok by King Rama III, by Ian A Gratton who had encased it in stucco to protect it. This is an essential part of any Chinatown exploration. +66 2 250 5500 (Tourist Information) www.wattraimitr-withayaram.com/ 661 Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok Bangkok Art & Culture Centre "Highly Anticipated Arts" The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre opened its doors in 2008. This modern, eleven floored art center offers exhibition and performance space in the form of galleries and studios, as well as an auditorium and meeting rooms. The center also houses a library. Not only does it showcase the visual arts and design movements, but theater and musical performances by GuillaumeG also take place here, as well as planned film screenings. +66 2 214 6630 www.bacc.or.th/ [email protected] 939 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Bangkok The Jim Thompson House "Home of Thai Silk" Jim Thompson's house is a key spot for tourists and locals who are aware of the legendary entrepreneur and his role in setting up the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company in Thailand. Constructed from six different traditional teak houses in the year 1958, all of the walls have been reassembled. Today, the house has been converted into a fine-art and history museum by Don Ramey Logan where one can find Jim Thompson's beautiful collection of art. Artifacts from Thailand and Southeast Asia, comprising of finely-crafted sculptures, vivid paintings, and exquisite porcelain artifacts, form the core of the displays laid out in the businessman's former residence. The guided tours offered here are extremely informative and insightful. Additionally, the Jim Thompson's house serves an a venue for many exhibitions and events. +66 2 216 7368 www.jimthompsonhouse.com/ 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok by WORAVUDH HIRANYAPAISANSAKUL Wat Ratchanatdaram "Majestic Buddhist Temple" A stirring representation of religion and history, this resplendent wat (temple) was built during the reign of King Rama III in 1846. Situated not far from the King Rama II Memorial Plaza, this temple is believed to be the only existing brazen temple (a structure whose roof is clad in bronze tiles) in the world. The centerpiece of the temple is the glorious Loha Prasat, a spectacularly-tiered structure standing proudly under a string of 37 gleaming spires which symbolize the 37 Buddhist virtues of enlightenment. Exuding a profound sense of palatial splendor, this invigorating temple is a spectacular sight to savor, especially during night, when it, in its entirety, is set alight by wonderful lighting. The temple has a well-known market selling Buddhist amulets, or magic charms, which are believed to protect the wearer from physical harm. Awash in splendid Buddhist architectural semblances unique to Sri Lanka, this historic temple is an incredible canvas of ancient magnificence. +66 2 250 5500 (Tourist Information) [email protected] Mahachai Road, Bowon Niwet, Bangkok Museum Siam "Interactive Introduction to Thailand" A short walk from Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, the Museum Siam is based in the fine old mansion that was once the commerce building. The displays here are hands-on, interactive and fun, focusing on the local culture of Thailand. Beginning in prehistoric times and moving through different periods to the present day, the exhibits do not dwell solely on the by Yakuzakorat monarchy but focus on the people, the culture of Thailand, and Thailand today. In each room there are some interesting visual effects, games to play, or fun activities. All displays are translated or subtitled in English, and the site has a gift shop and cafe. +66 2 225 2777 www.museumsiam.org/ [email protected] 4 Sanam Chai Road, National Discovery Museum Institute, Bangkok Wat Pho "Bangkok's Royal Wat" Characterized by a gleaming nexus of intricate spires that shoot upwards, and a spectacular sprawl of regional architecture, the iconic Wat Pho is counted among Bangkok's oldest temples. This royal temple was built by King Rama I on an erstwhile temple site, and while the original features of the temple are still exquisitely preserved, the temple underwent by BerryJ remodeling during the reign of King Rama III. The crown jewel of the stunning Wat Pho is the languorously reclining statue of the Buddha, stretching across 46 meters (150.9 feet) of glistening gold. Apart from the lifelike Buddha statue, the temple is also home to the most extensive collection of Buddha images, and one of Thailand's earliest hubs of religious education. Wat Pho boasts of a northern compound called the phutthawat, which constitutes some of the temple's most impressive buildings, including the one within which the Reclining Buddha is housed. The southern compound remains closed off to visitors, and comprises of a school and accommodation for resident monks. While many are aware that Wat Pho is a revered religious and educational symbol, few know of its association with the traditional practices of Thai massage. From 1955, the temple has been operating as a center for Thai medicine, besides also displaying endless plaques and inscriptions related to this traditional therapy within its vast complex. +66 2 662 3533 www.watpho.com/ [email protected] 2 Sanamchai Road, Phra Borommaharatchawang, Bangkok Templo do Buda Esmeralda (Wat Phra Kaew) "Emerald Buddha's Home" Perhaps as old as the city of Bangkok itself, Wat Phra Kaew lies in a by Original image: Ninara complex that covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers (0.58 square miles) from Helsinki, Finland. Edit: and features more than 100 buildings, including those of the Grand TSP Palace. Also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the highlights at this temple include the recently restored murals of scenes from the Ramakien (the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana) and the 75-centimeter (29.5 inches) tall jade Emerald Buddha, the most highly revered Buddha statue in the country. While there are certain accounts that trace the origins of the Buddha statue to India and Sri Lanka, the most convincing legend around the statue links it to the Lanna Kingdom. According to legend, the statue was procured when a stucco-covered Buddha was struck by lightning at a temple in Chiang Rai. What appeared to be a slightly chipped exterior revealed a green sheen, which led to the revelation of the emerald Buddha when completely unraveled. The Emerald Buddha exchanged several hands and traversed many kingdoms before it found its rightful place in the Wat Phra Kaew. The gilded robe seen lightly resting on the revered statue is changed thrice each year by the King of Thailand himself. +66 2 250 5500 (Tourist Information) Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Grand Palace Complex, Bangkok Grande Palácio de Bangkok "King's Former Residence" From 1782 to 1925, the Grand Palace of Bangkok was the residence of the Thai King and the royal family. From a distance, the Palace is a silhouette of delicate finials spiraling above tiered roofs and gleaming, gold pagodas, a bejeweled landscape of endless wonder. The regal complex was continuously built upon and expanded over the years, creating a by Andy Marchand spectacular collage of traditional Thai architecture interspersed with more modern European influences. The Grand Place is split into three distinct areas - the Inner Court, the Middle Court and the Outer Court. Once the exclusive domain of women, the Inner Court remains inaccessible, while the Outer Court is maintained as a museum that is open to the public. This section of the Grand Palace also includes Wat Phra Keo, or the Temple of the Jade Buddha, one of Thailand's most revered shrines. A lavish testament to the skill of the local craftsmen and their taste for intricate designs, the Grand Palace of Bangkok may no longer be a royal residence but is without a doubt one of the country's most opulent estates. +66 2 250 5500 (Tourist Information) Na Phra Lan Road, Bangkok Bangkok National Museum "Great Introduction to Thailand" Established in 1884, making it Thailand's first public museum, the Bangkok National Museum is reputedly one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. It is definitely worth spending at least half a day here exploring the wide array of exhibits covering periods from Neolithic times. If you feel a bit overwhelmed with the vastness of the collection, which by Masgatotkaca includes Buddhist art, Chinese Tang and Cambodian Khmer arts, opt for a guided tour of the place. These are operated in English, German, French and Japanese. +66 2 282 2639 www.bangkoksite.com/NationalMus 4 Na Phrathat Road, Bangkok eum/index.htm Dusit Palace "Exquisite Thai Architecture" The Dusit Palace complex is one of the most visited sites in Bangkok. Constructed in the early 19th century, this palace complex was a vital government building and was dotted with the residences of the royals and important court members. This magnificent property is spread across 64,749 square meters (696,950 square feet) and boasts of Thai by Deror Avi architectural grandeur. While the Vimanmek Mansion is the oldest structure to sit within the complex, the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, and the Chitralada Royal Villa have all been built around the same period that ranges between 1904 to 1913.