Sightseeing in Bangkok - what to see. Complete travel guide

Bangkok is a bright and unforgettable city, the territory of which estimates approximately 560 sq. km, and its population is more than 9 million people. Despite its damp climate and inevitable chaos on the roads, Bangkok is definitely a very interesting place to visit. This city is famous for its numerous canals (or “klongs”, as locals call them), floating markets and, of course, for its amazing temples. As a rule, tourists are traditionally attracted by Bang Lamphu and China Town.

Regardless of the fact whether you like Bangkok or not, we can assure you that a trip to this city will definitely leave many unforgettable impressions. Bangkok is home to hundreds of temples and cloisters. Some of them are widely recognized as the most beautiful ones across South-West Asia. First of all, tourists are recommended to visit well-known Wat Phra Kaew, which is located in the Grand Palace. Wat Arun and Wat Po are also worth your attention. In Thai the word 'Wat' means a group of temples. All these temples are located in the ancient part of the city, and the distance between them is not very big, so you can easily visit these temples one by one on foot.

Wat Po. Wat Po is the oldest and the largest temple in Bangkok. The church was built in the 6th century. The main building of this sacred complex is decorated with an amazing golden statue depicting a reclining Buddha. The height of the statue 46 m, and its width estimates 15 meters. Originally the statue was made of brick, and then it was covered with stucco and gold. It’s simply impossible not to notice the enormous feet of Buddha. The feet, which are decorated with mother-of-pearl, feature 108 physical embodiments of Buddha. Due to its size and look the statue of Buddha always leaves a strong impression and creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere. More than that, the territory of the temple is home to numerous truly marvellous chapels, pavilions and towers, many of which store priceless relics. Creators of the temple have been so attentive to details that it is almost impossible to find a place in the territory of the temple, which is undecorated. Numerous stone sculptures and images of Buddha are coated with a layer of gold and amaze tourists with their shine. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Wat Arun. If you cross The Chao Phraya River, you will find yourself in the territory of Wat Arun or, as it's often called, the Temple of Dawn. This is a traditionally built tower in a form of a finger (86m high), which is decorated with a great number of pieces of ceramics and colourful porcelain that shines brightly under the sunrays. The temple is particularly beautiful from a distance, when it seems to be of white and silver colours. Wat Arun has become the place of burial of king Rama II. You will find a market of amulets nearby. This is the place, where hundreds of people sell different pendants, pictures and talismans. Do not forget to visit this interesting market – this is a rare place where you can find real pieces of art.

Wat Benjamabophit. Wat Benchamabophit is built from Carrara marble from India. Beautiful stained-glass windows and the gallery of the temple deserve special attention. You will also find a great collection of different images of Buddha here. Every image expresses one of his lakshanas (embodiments).

The Grand Palace and The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The Grand Palace is something like a small town within the city. The building of the palace was started in 1782, when Bangkok became the 4th capital of Thailand. Despite the fact, that the King doesn't live in this palace anymore and the palace is used only on special occasions, it still remains a symbolic heart of Bangkok. The territory of the Grand Palace is the location of Wat Phra Kaeo Temple. This Temple stores a great sacred object - the Emerald Buddha. The 75-santimeter statue of Buddha is made from jade, and the age of the statue is approximately 500 years. Three times a year during a solemn ceremony, in which the king of Thailand takes part, the dress of Buddha is changed. Wat Phra Kaeo is the main royal chapel and the most sacred temple in Thailand.

Tourists will also see numerous well-crafted mythological sculptures near Wat Phra Kaeo. The temple consists of several buildings, all of which are very beautiful, that's why it is nearly impossible to decide, which one has the best decoration. All of them are embellished with colourful tiles, gold and mirrors. Visitors will be also able to see Angkor Wat. This temple was built in the period, when a large part of Thailand belonged to the Khmer. The audience hall is the location of a fabulous nacreous throne. Inner premises of Wat Phra Kaeo are decorated with amusing mural paintings, which depict various stories from Buddha's life. It's forbidden to enter the temple with bare knees or shoulders.

Damnoen Saduak. Every tourist, who comes to Bangkok, should certainly not forget to make a small boat trip across the “klongs”. This is one of the best ways to observe the everyday life of the city. The best time for visiting the floating market of Bangkok is early morning – this is the time of the most energetic trade. The floating market Damnoen Saduak, which is situated approximately 80 km from Bangkok, is the biggest market of such kind, and one of the most popular places, which attracts a lot of tourists.

Sellers in small boats, which are full of vegetables, fish, flowers and souvenirs appear in the market before the dawn. They look for a suitable place along the bank of the canal and start offering their goods. You can also notice narrow boats with a kind of a kitchen on them – these sellers offer various delicious Thai delicatessen. Traders on the boats are mainly women. The majority of them wear straw hats, which protect their faces from the hot sun. Tourists can participate in a real theatre performance, in which constantly moving boats perform as actors. The only thing you should remember, if you are going to visit the floating market, is that you surely won't be the only tourist there.