Many may not realize that the Bangkok National Museum is located on the compound that houses the Bowon Sathan Mongkon Palace or the Front Palace. Located, as its name suggest, right in front of the Royal Palace, it was once the residence of the figures held the exalted position of being second to the king. The palace’s main attraction is the Phutthai Sawan Royal Residence, which holds Phra Phutta Sihing, a revered Buddha statue from Sri Lanka, as well as ancient paintings depicting the life of Buddha.
The Old Town is one of Bangkok’s most significant tourist draws, home to the some of the country’s most striking landmarks such as The Grand Palace, Wat Po and a spate of museums and galleries. The area, however, also boasts a number of other cultural gems apart from these guidebook staples; attractions that remain untainted by tour coaches and selfie sticks. These “undiscovered” sights encapsulate a part of the country’s cultural history that’s no less great than the stories told by the area’s more popular attractions.
Take our advice and dedicate your next weekend to discovering these hidden Old Town gems.