Old City Attractions in Bangkok, Thailand - The City of Angels

Bangkok (locally know as Krung Thep, "City of angels"), Thailand's capital, blends the old and the new. It is a modern city of marvelous contrasts, where office towers mingle with glittering palace and temples and traditional wooden houses sit alongside air-conditioned mansions.It's an exotic, fascinating, and sometimes congested home for over six million people, with a strong sense of tradition and legendary hospitality.Amazingly, in the midst of this heretic, modern city Bangkok manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a unique degree.

(PRWEB) June 25, 2005 -- Bangkok (locally know as Krung Thep, "City of angels"), Thailand's capital, blends the old and the new. It is a modern city of marvelous contrasts, where office towers mingle with glittering palace and temples and traditional wooden houses sit alongside air-conditioned mansions.It's an exotic, fascinating, and sometimes congested home for over six million people, with a strong sense of tradition and legendary hospitality.Amazingly, in the midst of this heretic, modern city Bangkok manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a unique degree.

AS The Spiritual and historical heart of Bangkok, the Old City is dense with temples and shrines. Known as Rattanakosin, this was the centre of the new capital Rama I founded in 1782. Remnants of a defensive wall can be seen between the Golden Mount and Wat Ratchanat. Some of Thailand's finest Rattanakosin period architecture is within the Old City. The foremost example is the Grand Palace, within which is Wat Phra Kaeo, home of the country's most venerated image, the Emerald Buddha. South of here is Wat Pho , one of the city's oldest temples, while to the north lies Sanam Luang("Filed of Kings"), the site of royal ceremonies.    

Alongside Sanam Luang , the National Museum contains Southeast Asia's most impressive collection of artifacts. Two Buddhist universities are located in temples nearby : Wat Maha That and Wat Bowonniwet. The latter is famed for its murals combining Western and traditional Thai styles.

Street-by-Street : Around Sanam Luang
SANAM LUANG ("Field of Kings" or "Royal Ground") is one of the few sizeable open spaces in Bangkok. It is the traditional site for royal cremations, the annual kite-flying festival and the Royal Ploughing Ceremony . Spiritually speaking, this area is one of the luckiest in the city, with the Grand Palace , the Lak Muang (City Pillar) shrine and the Amulet Market bordering Sanam Luang. Neighbouring streets overflow with salesman hawking lotions, potions and amulets for luck, love , or protection from evil spirits. Astrologers gather to chart your stars or read your palm. Notable sight include Wat Mahathat, Thailand's most revered centre of Buddhist studies, and the National Museum.

Wat Mahathat
Meditation classes are held at the Buddhist university within this temple's compound. Dating from the 18th century, the wat is more notable for its bustling atmosphere than its buildings.
Silpakorn University of Fine Arts.

This facade, facing Sanam Luang , fronts Thailand's most famous art school. The university regularly puts on excellent art shows in its exhibition hall. See the boards outside the entrance for detail and opening times.    
   
Amulets
The Thais are a highly superstitious people - those who do not wear some form of protective or lucky amulet are firmly in a minority. Amulets come in myriad forms and are sold in specialist markets, often near spiritually auspicious sites. Although many are religion in nature - such as tiny Buddha images and copies of sacred statues - others are designed for more practical purposes, such as model phaluses to ensure sexual potency. Amulets are such a big business that there are even magazines dedicated to them.

National Museum
A magnificent range of arts and crafts from every period of Thai history are displayed in this huge museum.    

Fortune Teller at Sanam Luang
Many Thais set great store by the predictions of fortune tellers and often visit those who gather on Sanam Luang near Wat Phra Kaeo.

Kite Flying at Sanam Luang
King Chulalongkorn was a keen kite flyer and permitted Sanam Luang to be used for the sport. Fiercely contested kite fights can often be witnessed here between February and April.

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