The Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok is in reality a walled town covering an area of over a square mile. Besides the Chapel Royal (Wat Phra Kaeo) where the Emerald Buddha is enshrined, the principal objects of interest within the precincts of the Palace are the two halls of audience, the Dusit Maha Prasad Hall and the Amarindr Vinichai Hall. The first two date from the foundation of the city of Bangkok in A.D. 1782 and were constructed during the early years of the reign of King Rama I. The Dusit Maha Prasat, which is considered the finest building inside the Palace and is certainly one of the jewels of modern Thai architecture, was erected for ceremony purposes such as for lying in state of king and queens and for the annual coronation day ceremony. The coronation of King Rama I took place in the Dusit Maha Prasad, but after his death the golden urn containing his remains was exposed in that Hall. In the old days the hall was the formal audience hall where the king met his offiers for state business. Now it is used for many cermonies such as their Majesties Birthday and coronation day.The middle hall , Phaisal Thaksin, where important ceremonies such as coronation and solemn audience take place contains the gorgeous pavilion on which the King appears on these occasions.
The Chakri Maha Prasat Hall is an imposing building constructed after the plans of a British architect in a victorian style , but covered with a roof of pure Thai style. Most of it is occupied by the Thorne Hall.