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The 218,400 sq metre compound referred to as the Grand Palace was once the centre of administration housing the residence of Thai monarchs, government offices and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha where royalty worshipped. Rama I who assumed control of the country after the fall of Ayutthaya moved the centre of government to Rattanakosin Island on which the Grand Palace was erected within a 1,900 metre fortification comprising of four walls. The court and government offices were based at the Grand Palace complex from early as 1782 to 1925 when the royal family moved out of the site. By 1932 all government offices also left the complex. Royal ceremonies and official functions are still held at the site and high ranking state guests are also put up here. The palace complex is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bangkok. The buildings in the complex display several architectural styles reflecting the times in which they were built and are set among gardens, lawns and courtyards. The palace complex started off as a set of simple wooden structures and was gradually replaced with a brick structure from bricks that were scrounged from palaces destroyed in Ayutthaya during the war with Burma in the mid 18th century. The layout of the palace complex followed that of the palace complex at Ayutthaya and comprises of an outer court where former government and other public buildings and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are located, a central court with the residence of the king and buildings used for state occasions and an inner court that housed the queen, the king's consorts and daughters. This part of the complex was populated entirely by women and young boys. The complex features some of the most beautiful buildings in the country that display the best in hand painted ceramic ornamentation, gilded detailing, ornamental woodwork and tile work. However during the 200 years in which it was occupied various monarchs added their own touches or constructed new buildings that display Chinese and European influences leading to exotic hybrids. For instance the royal residence and some of the administrative buildings are very European in design with it having a partial Thai style roof design. Amongst the buildings in the complex perhaps the most important is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha which is one of the most revered temples in the country and contains a statue of the Buddha in a meditating position, carved out of a single large emerald. Citadenes Sukhumvit 16 Bangkok offers one of the most convenient locations, in the heart of the city with shopping, entertainment and many businesses easily accessed via the sky train and the metro. As a popular Bangkok apartment hotel guests can expect well equipped contemporary studio and one bedroom apartments suited to vacationers and business visitors. Stay at this Bangkok serviced accommodation that can serve as a base to explore the city and such attractions such as the Grand Palace. Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
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