Photos

Repost of a previous photo. I tried to enhance the quality and straighten it up a bit...

A magnificent Naga sculpture adorning the entrance of one of the buildings in the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. The figures are often decorated with mosaic tiles made from glass and stone.

The "Grand Palace" complex in Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It has an area of about 218,000 sq. meters and is now surrounded by walls but bordered by the river on one side. The walls themselves are 1,900 meters long. Construction began in 1782 and continued into the 20th century. When the Kingdom of Siam restored order following the fall of Ayutthaya, the king lived in Thonburi on the west side of the river. Upon his ascention Rama I moved the center of administration to the other side of the Chao Praya, and built the palace to serve as the royal residence, but also to house offices for various government ministries. Only one remains within the palace walls today, however. King Bhumibol moved the official royal residence to the Chitalada Palace in the Dusit district later. As it's no longer an official royal residence many parts of it are open to visitors, including Boromabian Hall; Amarinda Hall, the original residence of Rama I and the Hall of justice; Dusit Hall; and one of the most often-photographed buildings, the Chakri Maha Prasat. This building has something of a shady past, however; it has not been used as a royal residence since the mysterious death of King Rama VIII, the older brother of the current king, who was found shot dead in his room in 1946. The palace is still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes, however. The palace is also home to Wat Phra Keo, the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha.