Rattanakosin, also known as Rattanakosin Island and Bangkok Old City, is the historic centre of the city and home to many of Bangkok’s most iconic and revered attractions. Situated north of Chinatown and spanning the Chao Phraya River, it exudes Bangkok’s glittering story.
The island is home to such splendid attractions as the Grand Palace which was the former home of the King, the Royal Court, Thai war ministry and other governmental offices for 150 years. The Palace’s intricate detail and remarkable architecture continue to draw people worldwide. Other famous landmarks include Wat Phra Kaew or the Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, which translates to “Temple of the Emerald Buddha”, is seen as one of Thailand’s most important Buddhist temples. It contains the Emerald Buddha, carved from a single block of jade and raised high on a series of platforms near which only the King is allowed. Nearby is Wat Phra Kaew, a model of Angkor Wat built under the order of King Rama IV when Siam controlled Cambodia, and the Balcony with murals telling the story of the Ramayana epic, guarded at each of its gates by the five-metre tall Yaksa Tavarnbal. Sanam Luang, a historic park normally used for important Buddhist and Royal ceremonies, as well as the National Gallery can also be found here.
There are no BTS Skytrain or MRT metro stations in the Rattanakosin area, but local taxis, tuk-tuks and river boats are popular alternatives with some of the most visited sites such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho located directly next to Chao Phraya Express river boat piers.
The Rattanakosin Kingdom is the fourth and present traditional centre of power in the History of Thailand, founded in 1782. It is the historic centre of Bangkok, thought to have been settled in the 14th or 15th century. The area has grown more important over time because of its strategic position on the Gulf of Thailand and Chao Phraya River.