In the area between Sanam Luang and the old northern perimeter wall of the city are a number of interesting sights, as well as the backpacker mecca of Khaoaan Road. Even if you're not staying in the Khaosan area, a visit there can be interesting. Although the Khaosan Road ('KSR' for short) is part of the Banglampu district of Bangkok, most people, including many Thais, know it by the name of street.
Tucked away on one corner of the intersection of Tanao and Rajadamnoen Roads, and barely signed on the outside, is the memorial to those who lost their lives in a massacre of civilian protesters on 14 October 1973.
The memorial to those who died in the 14 October 1973 student unrest. Like many events in recent Thai history, there are a number of different versions of what happened on that day and the months before.
In addition to the Dusit Palace, the prodigious King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) also ordered the construction of Bang Khun Phrom Palace on the riverfront around the turn of the twentieth century. In addition to the palace building, he also ordered the construction of the "Newlyweds Mansion" (Tamnak Haw) in 1903 for the just-married Prince Paribatra.
The old Bang Khun Phrom Palace, now housing the museum of the Bank of Thailand The Prince and his bride lived in the palace grounds until they went into exile after the 1932 revolution overthrowing the absolute monarchy.
The pool, bar and river-view rooms at Riva Suriya Most of the hotels around Khaosan are definitely in keeping with its budget 'backpacker' image. However, there are a few nice places in the area that will allow you to enjoy the convenience of being close to everything and yet be comfortable. The two most notable of these are the Navalai River Resort and the new in 2012 Riva Surya. An even newer, less fancy, option is Baan Chart Hotel, right around the corner from one end of Khaosan Road.
It's the main tourist center for the 'backpacker' set. Star of many books and movies, the most recent and notable staring Leonardo DiCaprio. Khao San is a relatively short road remarkably close to many major sights such as the Grand Palace.
The busy Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker heaven In addition to its many guest houses - some of which, in the United States, would better be referred to as 'flop houses' - the street is crammed full of shops and markets selling everything the cheap tourist needs, from backpacks and flip-flops to pirated compact discs and used paperback books.
Along Phra Sumen road a few blocks from the Banglampu river pier is the important but seldom visited temple of Wat Bowoniwet. The Chinese style of the temple's decorations suggest it was built, or at least rebuilt, around the time of Rama II in the early nineteenth century.
Royal residences next to the temple compound of Wat Bowoniwet But the temple's current importance comes from the fact that King Rama IV (Mongkut) served as abbot here.
Tucked away in the center of the backpacker area near Khaosan Road is the temple of Wat Chana Songkram. People often use the temple as a shortcut between Khaosan Road and the river without ever stopping to take a closer look. Big mistake.
The shady lanes of the temple housing area of Wat Chana Songkram Built in the eighteenth century, the temple has recently been renovated. If approaching the temple from the riverside area, you first pass though the shady courtyard (and parking lot) of the temple housing (kuti), where both the monks and lay workers for the temple live.
The 32-meter (100-foot) tall standing Buddha of Wat Indrawiharn used to be visible from just about any high vantage point around the old city. Now it's hidden behind the new buildings from Thailand's boom years of the 1980s and 90s.
The huge standing Buddha of Wat Indrawiharn Not that it's any great loss. The giant Buddha statue is a rare example of Thai religious art failing to live up the the graceful lines it's known for.
