Nara Suite Residence
Nara Suite Residence is 4-star serviced Residence located in Soi Naradhiwas 24 (Sathupradit 19) in residential areas of central Bangkok and very easy access to and from Silom or Sathon road. Central Department stores on Rama 3 and 5-star hotels are in the same vicinity. BTS station Chong Nonsi is just few stones throw away
Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram) is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located in the historic centre of Bangkok, within the grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the highly revered Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade. The Emerald Buddha (Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn) is a Buddha image in the meditating position in the style of the Lanna school of the north, dating from the 15th century AD.
Raised high on a series of platforms, no one is allowed near the Emerald Buddha except HM the King. A seasonal cloak, changed three times a year to correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season covers the statue. A very important ritual, the changing of the robes is performed only by the King to bring good fortune to the country during each season. The temple of Emerald Buddha is beautifully decorated and has a great sense of peace about it.
If there is one must-see sight that no visit to Bangkok would be complete without, it's the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark. Built in 1782 - and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government - the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom.
- Opening Hours: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm
- Location: Na Phralan, Phra Nakorn (inside Grand Palace complex), Old City (Rattanakosin)
- Dress Code: no short pants or short skirts, not sleeveless tshirts. Sarong are for rent at the entrance but better dress appropriately to avoid the queue.
- Price Range: 500 Baht!
Source: http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/wat-prakaeo.htm
Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, is situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok, not only because of its riverside location, but also because the design is very different to the other temples you can visit in Bangkok. Wat Arun (or temple of the dawn) is partly made up of colourfully decorated spires and stands majestically over the water. Wat Arun is almost directly opposite Wat Pho, so it is very easy to get to. From Sapphan Taksin boat pier you can take a river boat that stops at pier 8. From here a small shuttle boat takes you from one side of the river to the other for only 3 baht. Entry to the temple is 100 baht. The temple is open daily from 08:30 to 17:30.
We would recommend spending at least an hour visiting the temple. Although it is known as the Temple of the Dawn, it's absolutely stunning at sunset, particularly when lit up at night. The quietest time to visit, however, is early morning, before the crowds. Given beauty of the architecture and the fine craftsmanship it is not surprising that Wat Arun is considered by many as one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. The spire (prang) on the bank of Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok's world-famous landmarks. It has an imposing spire over 70 metres high, beautifully decorated with tiny pieces of coloured glass and Chinese porcelain placed delicately into intricate patterns. You can climb the central prang if you wish, the steps are very steep but there is a railing to balance yourself. Getting up is as tricky as getting down! When you reach the highest point you can see the winding Chao Phraya River and the Grand Palace and Wat Pho opposite. Along the base of this central tower there are sculptures of Chinese soldiers and animals. Head into the ordination hall and you can admire a golden Buddha image and the detailed murals that decorate the walls. Although Wat Arun is a very popular for tourists, it is also an important place of worship for Buddhists. Make sure you dress appropriately, or pick up one of the cover ups that are for rent near the entrance.
Wat Arun was envisioned by King Taksin in 1768. It is believed that after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, which was taken over by a Burmese army at the time, he arrived at this temple just as dawn was breaking. He later had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of the Dawn. It used to be the home of the Emerald Buddha, before the capital and Palace was moved to the other side of the river. This can now be seen at the Grand Palace. The central prang was extended during the reign of Rama III (between 1824 and 1851), and is now one of the most visited sites in Thailand. It was also Rama III who added the decoration of the spires with porcelain, so that they glimmer in the sunshine.
- Opening Hours: 8.00 am to 17.30 pm
- Location: Located on the west side of Chao Praya River (opposite Tha Thien Pier)
- Price Range: 50 Baht!
Source: http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/wat-arun.htm
One of Bangkok’s most vibrant, authentic and unchanged neighborhoods, Chinatown – known locally as Yaowarat – is a must-see area for visitors to Thailand’s capital. Just a short hop from both the downtown business districts and the old-town Rattanakosin area, Chinatown is alive with opportunities to explore and discover a unique side to day-to-day life in Bangkok. With the sheer number of Thais of Chinese ancestry – the result of large-scale migration at various points over a period spanning hundreds of years – it’s no wonder that Bangkok’s Chinatown is widely regarded as the largest in the world.
Renowned worldwide for its incredible selection of street food, Yaowarat is also packed with fascinating temples and mesmerizing street life, art galleries, bars, restaurants, and plenty more – plus, every year it comes truly alive for occasions like Chinese New Year and Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival. It’s one part of Bangkok that you’ll definitely want to traverse on foot in order to fully soak up its heady vibe. Here’s our pick of what to see and do in and around Chinatown while you’re in Bangkok.
Make the most of your time in Bangkok with a nighttime tour – get to the heart of Bangkok’s culture, food and sightseeing with one of our expert-led evening tuk tuk tours!
Easily accessible street food can be grazed on in and around Chinatown at all hours of the day, but the street food scenes for which Yaowarat is famous really come alive at night. Large crowds of hungry foodies trawl the streets, as stalls set up along the pavements churning out both the usual Thai street food staples and other dishes with more Thai-Chinese influence.
Wedged between the Chaophraya river, old-town Rattanakosin Island, and the downtown Siam, Silom and Sathorn areas, getting to Chinatown in Bangkok is more of a breeze than you might think– and it will become even simpler when the new MRT station at Wat Mangkon temple opens in late-2019. For now, the easiest way to get there is to walk from Hualamphong MRT subway station – it’s around a 15-minute journey on foot. Alternatively, take the Chaophraya Express river boat (from Phra Athit pier if you’re staying in the Banglamphu/Khaosan area, or by connecting from the BTS Skytrain at Saphan Taksin if you’re staying downtown) to Ratchawong pier; from here, it’s only around an eight-minute walk to the heart of Yaowarat. Future extensions to the Skytrain and subway systems, which include stations due to open in Chinatown itself in the next year or so, will soon make getting here even easier.
Source: https://www.expique.com/blog/2018/07/10/what-to-do-in-chinatown-in-bangkok/
Once only popular among wholesalers and traders, Chatuchak Weekend Market has reached a landmark status as a must-visit place for tourists. Its sheer size and diverse collections of merchandise will bring any seasoned shoppers to their knees – this is where you can literally shop ‘till you drop’.
The 35-acre (68-rai) area of Chatuchak is home to more than 8,000 market stalls. On a typical weekend, more than 200,000 visitors come here to sift through the goods on offer. Veteran shoppers would agree that just about everything is on sale here, although not all at the best bargain rates. But if you have one weekend in Bangkok, squeeze in a day trip to Chatuchak Weekend Market and you will not be disappointed.
For first-timers, ‘conquering’ Chatuchak may seem like an impossible task, but worry not. There is a system to help you navigate your way through Chatuchak. Inside, one main walkway encircles the entire market, and it branches off into a series of numbered alleyways called Soi 1, Soi 2, Soi 3, and so on.
These alleyways are grouped into sections, with 27 sections in all. You will find more than one category of goods contained in one section, and the same category of goods will appear again in the other sections. In terms of locating your category of goods, this system is rather useless; but it will come in handy when you try to locate your particular stall or where your exact location is on the Chatuchak map.
Another way to find your way around Chatuchak is to find points of reference as you go along. The BTS and MRT stations as well as banks and numbered entrance gates are good points of references, as you will come across them as you turn corners. Then again, use the map to locate these references to find your correct orientation.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the perfect place for bargain hunting, although whatever you buy here is probably no longer the best deal you can find. So brush up your negotiation skills and be prepared to walk away when the deal fails to go your way. Then, you’ll either be offered a lower price or simply find the same merchandise at another stall. It also helps to do a few practice runs before you actually start buying. Note that a friendly attitude and big smile are your biggest allies in securing the best possible deal.
Hop on the skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, take exit no. 1 and follow the crowd until you see rows of canvas stalls selling clothes. Turn right while continuing to follow the crowd and you will see a small entrance that leads into the market (clothing section).
Another option is to take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station (exit no.1), then follow the crowd until you arrive at the small entrance that leads into the market (clothing section). For the plant and flower section, get off at Kampheng Phet MRT station (exit no. 1).
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the perfect place for bargain hunting, althougThe weekend market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00 - 18:00, and Fridays 18:00 - 24:00. Plant sections are also open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 07:00 - 18:00.
Source: http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/popular-markets.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
