The Grand Palace is situated between two old temples; Wat Pho to the south and Wat Mahathat to the north.

          The land on which the Palace stands had earlier been occupied by the Chinese community. King Rama I required them to move to a piece of land between the canal of Wat Samplum and Wat Sampheng, three kilometers further south. Construction began in A.D. 1782 and was completed in time for the coronation of King Rama I. The living quarters were temporary residence of wood with thatched roofs, and the wall of the Palace were wooden palisades. After the coronation the King moved into the mansion built of permanent materials were in Wat Phra Si Ratanasatsadaram (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the forts around the walls. A second coronation ceremony in full form according to the old tradition was held in A.D. 1785.

Stupa in Grand Palace Temple	Stupas in Royal Temple in Ayutthaya

          The plan of this new royal palace followed that of the Ayutthaya period: the river formed a moat on one side; the site of the temple of the Emerald Buddha corresponded to the site of Wat Phra Si Sanphet in the old royal palace at Ayutthaya.

Grand Palace Bangkok	Palace in old capital Ayutthaya

          Many of the other main buildings also correspond to those at the palace in Ayutthaya , the Phra Maha Monthian being the same position as Phra Thinang Wihan Sommdet, and Phra Thinang Dusit Mahaprasat standing for Phra Thinang Suriyatamarin in Ayutthaya . Only the central building seen today, which would correspond to Phra Thinang Sanphet Prasat, was missing until constructed as the Chakri Maha Prasat during the reign of Rama V.

          The area of the Royal Palace when it was first built was about 51 acres; the southern side that now abuts Wat Pho was an expansion by Rama II. The temple and the palace were separated by a road named Thai Wang (Back of the Palace). The total area is now about 60 acres.

          The Royal Palace contains a number of halls, residences and other buildings which were built in the time of Rama I. Later monarches altered some and renovated others, while others were enlarged or pulled down to make way for new buildings.