The Grand Palace in Bangkok is truly the most grand of any site I have ever visited. Outfitted with an absolutely obscene amount of glittering decoration, I was blown away by the intricate and gloriously beautiful architecture and aesthetic detailing – truly a wonder to see.

The Grand Palace was the official residence of the King of Siam (now Thailand) from the late 18^th century through the mid-20^th century. The total spread of the grounds is 2.6 km2, housing various groups and complexes of buildings, with the most famous being Wat Phra Kaew, the tiny but impressive Emerald Buddha. The Central Court is the location of the King’s residence, with the Inner Court being the home of the royal consorts and daughters, and the Outer Court housing government departments. The architecture in inspired by the ancient Thai capital Ayutthaya.

One of my favorite parts was the Burmese style golden stupa – just look at that gold!

The famous Emerald Buddha is a must-see. Pictures inside aren’t allowed, so you’ll have to see it for yourself! Moving further along, I could not help but take way too many photos of the soaring glittering columns and beautifully decorated figurines supporting the structures.

Entrance ways to the buildings are guarded by various creatures, painstakingly painted and decorated.

As you can probably guess from the photos, the day was smoking hot – take sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water! For a little reprieve in the shade, the galleries have beautiful gold-flecked paintings lining their walls.

In the Central courtyard/reception area, my absolute favorite buildings were on display, surrounded by impeccably pruned shrubs. This collection of buildings was actually designed by an English architect, resulting in a very Western style lower section combined with the delicate Thai-style roofs. So unique and different from anything I’ve seen before.

I can MORE than recommend a visit to this amazing wonder. More details and description here.