|
Close to the river, just north of Chinatown, is Ko Rattanakosin, the
oldest part of Bangkok. Often referred to as an island, it was originally
carved out of a bend in the river to strengthen the defensive position of
the new Siamese capital in the 18th century and is the home of many the
city's traditional and historical attractions. (read
here about the Thai history)
 Impressive historical sights like
The Grand Palace,
Wat Phra Kaew and the traditional learning centres
of Wat Pho (massage)
and Wat Mahathat, widely considered to be one of Thailand's first
universities and a centre for meditation. The
National Museum and the
National Gallery can also be found here.
Rattanakosin also contains Bangkok's most revered and architecturally
inspiring temples, some containing curious remnants of the past. Wat Sutat,
a well known temple, has the remains of a famous Giant Swing. The swing was
formerly used in a ceremony where competing young men had to grab a bag of
gold with their teeth while swinging high above the ground. High impact
injuries and a mounting death toll resulted in the ceremony being abandoned
in 1933.
Within walking distance of the Grand Palace is the district of Banglampoo,
better known by one of the main streets - Khao San Road. Formerly a
backpacker's place, it's now gaining popularity with families and budget
travellers. |
Hotels
