 |
Bangkok
Hotel and Travel Guide
In
the midst of dynamic modern growth, Bangkok miraculously
manages to preserve its cultural heritage to a marked degree.
The soaring roofs and gleaming spires of the Grand Palace
and the city’s many historic temples – Temple of the Emerald
Buddha, Temple of Dawn and other evocative shrines – present
the visitor with a picture of medieval Oriental wonder;
the very stuff of Eastern fairytales. And contained within
Bangkok’s monuments and sights are treasures of the nation’s
artistic and cultural endeavour that typify the land and
the people.
The
influence of the past and the enduring threads of the social
fabric are not limited to the static. They continue to pervade
daily life. Files of saffron-robed monks making their early
morning alms round, for example, present an image unaltered
in essentials by the passing of time. Today’s backdrop of
highrise buildings serve only to emphasize the exotic and
timeless scene, while the city draws definition from it.
Indeed, there is much to discover, and in addition to the
city’s most famous monuments there are numerous lesser known
sights of great interest. The Chapel of the Emerald Buddha,
which enshrines the national palladium, rightly tops the
sightseeing list, but Bangkok numbers more than 400 temples,
many of which have their own fascination.
A similar selection can be made with museums. The National
Museum is excellent and comprehensive, but as impressive
in their own way are the Jim Thompson House, Vimanmek Mansion
and Suan Pakkad Palace, all of which house fine art collections
within noteworthy settings.
Not least, cruising the Chao Phraya river and the remaining
canals which once made Bangkok the “Venice of the East”
offers a glimpse of traditional riverine lifestyles, affording
insights into the history and character of this wondrous
city
|
|
