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Rattanakosin Island is at the heart of Bangkok’s history. Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, decided to establish his palace there, and that it would be the place of the new capital of Siam.
Built between 1782 and 1785, the Grand Palace was the most important place of the kingdom in which everything was decided, until the abolition of the absolute monarchy in 1932. In addition to the throne room and to the Ambassadors Reception Room, the palace is also a religious centre. A second surrounding wall, marking the boundary of the sacred space, protects the Wat Phra Kraew that houses the worldly famous and immensely sacred statue of the Emerald Buddha. This place is an incredible piece of architecture, a diamond on the crown of the bygone kings, and the riches of its decoration remain unmatched in Thailand.
Outside the Grand Palace is found the temple of Wat Pho. This temple is one of the four Royal Temples of the first order and houses the statue of the reclining Buddha. Of 46 meters long, it was given as a gift by the very pious King Rama III and is one of the most revered images of Buddha in Thailand.
Located next to the Grand Palace, the National Museum was made to be a didactic and pedagogical route if one wants to discover the history of Siam, but also its cultural ties with the rest of South-East Asia.
Rattanakosin is therefore a place one must absolutely visit