Royal Grand Palace (Phra Barom Maha Rajcha Wang)

The Royal Grand Palace is made up of a vast complex of intricate buildings, including Wat Mahathat (Palace Temple) and Wat Phra Keow (Royal Chapel). Construction of the palace began in 1782 and was completed in time for the coronation of King Rama I, opening in 1785 to signify the end of the Burmese invasion of Thailand. The palace lies in the heart of the old town and covers an area of 218,400 sq metres (2,350,857 sq ft). The compound is surrounded by a moat and contains two sections, the former royal residence and the Buddhist temple. The Royal Chapel houses the famous Emerald Buddha, which is carved from a single piece of jade, and is the holiest and most revered religious object in Thailand.
Air: Bangkok International Airport. Rail: Train: Hualamphong Station. Road: Bus: Public services. Car: The entrance to the palace is on Na Phra Lan Road, near Sanam Luang in the centre of Bangkok.