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The capital of more than two centuries old, historical traces in Bangkok still remain to be seen and continue to be developed with the passing of different periods of time. Starting from the City Pillar Shrine, walk pass the old city moat or Khlong Khu Mueang Doem and continue along the historical route to see old buildings, royal residences, palaces, shrines of sacred spirits, temples, markets, shops, and museums. Enjoy a retrospective image of Bangkok over the past two centuries through provided contents and narration. The walk distance of 6 kilometers ends at Khao San Road where visitors may spend an evening experiencing the colorful nightlife to finish one full day of an impressive walking tour.
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Map of Rattanakosin Walking Tour Total Distance 6 Km.
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Directions
Distance
Points of Interest
Head south on Thanon Ratchadamnoen Nai toward Na Phra Lan Road
31 m.
00 City Pillar Shrine
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Audio 1
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Turn left onto Lak Muang Road
290 m.
Audio 2
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Turn right onto Atsadang Road
1.1 Km.
Audio 3 & 4
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01 Klong Khu Muang Doem (Klong Lot) 02 Ministry of Defence 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
Chang Rongsi Bridge Ministry of Interior Pi Kun Bridge & Pig Memorial Wat Ratchapradit Wat Ratchabophit Hok Bridge Mon Bridge Chao Pho Ho Klong Shrine Pak Khlong Talat Market
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Turn right onto Chakphet Road
39 m.
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Turn right onto Sanam Chai Road
210 m.
12 Museum Siam
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Turn left onto Setthakan Road
190 m.
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Turn right onto Maha Rat Road
350 m.
13 Tha Tian Pier
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Turn right onto Thai Wang Road
350 m.
14 Wat Pho
Audio 5
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Turn left onto Sanam Chai Road 576m. Audio 6
15 Sararom Park 02 Ministry of Defense 16 Saranrom Palace
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Directions
Distance
Turn left onto Na Phra Lan Road
450 m.
Turn right onto Maha Rat Road
450 m.
Points of Interest
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17 Grand Palace and Temple Of The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo) 18 Silpakorn University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . Tha . . . . .Chang . . . . . . . .Pier ........................ 20 Wat Mahathat
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Turn right onto Phra Chan Road
280 m.
21 Thammasat University 22 Tha Phra Chan Pier
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Turn left onto Na Phra That Road
400 m.
23 National Museum 24 National Theater 25 Memorial of The Expeditionary Force
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Turn left onto Rachini Road
240 m.
26 Wang Na Theater
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Turn right onto Phra Athit Road
350 m.
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Turn right onto Chana Songkhram 110 m. ...................................................................................................................
Turn left onto Ram Buttri Road
300 m.
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Turn right onto Chakrabongse Road
140 m.
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Turn left onto Khao San Road
200 m.
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Points of Interest 00 City Pillar Shrine According to the ancient Thai traditions for building a city, the pillar of the city must be buried in the most important area for keeping the spirits of the city. The original pillar was made from Chaiyaphruek wood covered with sandal wood and contains the horoscope circle of the city inside.
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01 Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (Khlong Lot) Khlong Khu Mueang Doem is the official name of the inner city moat which was dug in the Thon Buri Period (a short period from 1767 to 1782 having King Taksin the Great as the only ruler). The inner city moats are found in the area of both the eastern and western sides of the Chao Phraya River. The city moat on the eastern side is about 2 km long connecting the river’s curve.
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02 Ministry of Defence Originally, it was the palace which King Rama I commanded to construct for his three sons. The present three-storeyed building of Western architectural style was constructed in 1882. The upper gable is decorated with cement molding and gilded with a Ratchawallop signet. The front yard is filled with ancient artilleries lying in rows.
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03 Chang Rongsi Bridge Constructed simultaneously with the establishment the bridge was initially made of a strong big trunk and stable that the elephant could walk on. Because of its location near the rice mill (Rongsi) of the royal rice silo, the bridge was thus called Chang Rongsi. It was rebuilt in the simple reinforced concrete structure decorated with the dog heads at the end of the bridge. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 04 Ministry Of Interior
It was the palace in the King Rama II and III periods and became a government office later on. The outstanding feature is seen by the rusticated wall and keystones at ransoms which are usually found in European Renaissance architecture. .........................................................................................................................
05 Pi Kun Bridge & Pig Memorial This walkway bridge was built in 1911. The Queen Mother of King Rama VI granted the construction cost to commemorate her fourth cycle (48 year-old) birthday which fell on the Year of the Pig. Two years of the Pi Kun Bridge exist, the Pig Memorial was created in 1913 as a birthday present to Queen Mother Sri Pacharindra’s 50 The birthday anniversary. The memorial was built from donation of the Queen’s friends. .........................................................................................................................
06 Wat Ratchapradit
This temple was built during the reign of King Rama IV. The purpose is to serve Dhammayutika Nikaya Buddhism. The highlight of the temple is the murals about royal ceremonies around the twelve months and a solar eclipse. .........................................................................................................................
07 Wat Ratchabophit The temple of King Rama V was built in 1869. The layout of the temple is very well designed. An outstanding architectural feature is the circular-shaped colonnades at the base of the great pagoda. The architecture of the building expresses a good combination between Thai and Western designs. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 08 Hok Bridge
Hok means lifting or converting. The platform of this wooden bridge can be lifted up like a Dutch bridge for boat traffic. This type of bridge was first built in the late past of King Rama IV’s reign (1851-1868).
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09 Mon Bridge
This bridge was originally built with teak timber in the third reign. In the past, Mon traders used to settle their boathouses in the area of the Mon Bridge. Nowadays, the timber structure was replaced by a concrete bridge after the teak timber burnt in 1910. .........................................................................................................................
10 Chao Pho Ho Klong Shrine “Chao Pho Ho Klong” shrine or the shrine of the drum tower spirit is located on Rachini Road. The shrine is a memorial to a brave officer of the drum tower who died during a war in the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809). Every ancient city in Thailand had a drum tower. There were three drums being used for different purposes, which are telling time, warning of fire disaster, and declaring a battle event. .........................................................................................................................
11 Pak Khlong Talad Market (Flower Market)
The large market beside the Chao Phraya River was settled since the early Rattanakosin Period. This area used to be a floating market. Nowadays, it has become the largest and the most important wholesale market of flowers and agricultural produce in Thailand. Nightlife here is crowded with people surrounded by colourful flowers. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 12 Museum Siam Once used as the office for the Ministry of Commerce. It is located in the area of former palaces which were built in the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851). The land was transferred to the government in King Rama VI’s reign (1910-1925). The well preserved main building has three storeys. Some details and decorations; such as, pilasters and architraves is influenced by European architecture. The building is now used for the first national discovery museum called “Museum Siam”.
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13 Tha Tian Pier In the past, Tha Tian area was one of the significant communities on Rattanakosin Island. A palace of a prince was constructed on this area in King Rama I’s reign (1782-1809) but it was destroyed by fire. Then, a foreign court and accommodation for foreigners were built before they were replaced with shophouses. Tha Tian market is known for various herbal products and dried seafood. There are the boats shuttle between the pier and Wat Arun in Thon Buri. Nearby Tha Tian Pier is located Nakarabhirom Park.
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14 Wat Pho Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetupon was built in the Ayutthaya Period (1688-1703). The common name is “Wat Pho”, a shortened word of its original name Photharam. Famous for the second largest reclining Buddha image in Thailand. During the early Rattanakosin period, Wat Pho was the centre of various fields of education including traditional Thai massage.
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15 Saranrom Park
Saranrom Royal Garden was built in 1868 and the park was later created in 1874. There are many interesting monuments and one of them is the memorial of Queen Sunantha Kumareerat who passed away from a boating accident in 1880 when she was still young. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 16 Saranrom Palace The palace lies to the east of the Royal Grand Palace, it was built during the reign of King Rama IV. In 1868 King Rama V gave Saranrom Palace to his eldest brother, Prince Kroma Phra Chakrabaddibongse. Later this palace has been used as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where state guests were received. King Rama VI lived here until he ascended the throne when he then returned the palace to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1926.
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17 Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo) Constructed simultaneously with the establishment of Rattanakosin in 1782 by King Rama I the Great, the complex covers a total area of 60 acres and comprises 2 major quarters; the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo).
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18 Silpakorn University
The leading Thai university in fine arts, archaeology, and many other faculties. Established in 1943 by Italian born art professor Corrado Feroci. In the reign of King Rama I, (1782-1809) the area of Silpakorn University was the site of three palaces.
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19 Tha Chang Pier Tha Chang (elephant pier) was built in the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809). In the past, elephants from the Grand Palace were brought to this area to take a bath. At present, Tha Chang has a ferry jetty, with a number of retail shops and a market. At the corner of the Tha Chang area, there are old shophouses built during King Rama V’s reign (1868-1910) with beautiful plaster pediment, pilasters, and stucco. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 20 Wat Mahathat One of the most significant religious places on Rattanakosin Island. First built in the Ayutthaya Period (1350-1967) it became more and more important in the Rattanakosin Era. In King Rama I’s reign (1782-1809), the temple was the residence of the patriarch. In King Rama V’s reign (1868-1910), it was the place where the Royal Crematorium was built and processed.
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21 Thammasat University Formally known as “Thammasat Lae Kan Mueang University” (Moral and Political Sciences). Established in 1934, this university is the second modern university in Thailand. In the beginning, the university offered only courses in law and political economy. Later, the university was developed to have wider fields of study and the name was shortened to “Thammasat University”.
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22 Tha Phra Chan Pier
The lively area of Tha Phra Chan used to be the palace of Prince Prachak Silpakom. Along Maha Rat and Phra Chan Roads surrounding Wat Maha that is the biggest amulet market in Bangkok where an array of amulets stands are found.
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23 National Museum The first museum in Thailand was established by King Rama IV (1851-1868). The king used two buildings in the Grand Palace to keep his private antique collections. The first public museum was opened in 1874 during King Rama V’s reign in a building named “Sala Sahathai Samakhom” located in the precinct of the Grand Palace. The Museum was relocated in 1887 to its current location. Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Points of Interest 24 National Theatre Located in an area of the Palace of the Second Sovereign, the National Theatre was built in 1960 and completed in 1965. The T-shaped building has a combination of Thai and international styles. The Thai feature seems to dominate the overall appearance of the theatre since it is expressed by the roofing, high relief of the God of Arts, and sculptures of characters of Thai classical plays.
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25 Memorial of the Expeditionary Force This memorial was built in King Rama VI’s reign in 1919 to keep the ashes of Thai soldiers who died in the First World War. Thailand sent the expeditionary force of 1,200 volunteers to support the Allies in Europe in 1918 and 19 soldiers died. The names of the 19 soldiers are engraved on the four panels of the memorial.
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26 Wang Na Theatre
Next to the National Theatre is Wang Na Theatre. The area is used as the Learning Centre for Arts and Crafts. An art gallery is located beside the Wang Na Theatre.
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