Temple of Emerald Buddha reopened for int'l tourists

BANGKOK, November 1 (TNA) - The Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the compound of Bangkok's Grand Palace has been reopened to welcome international tourists, after a temporary closure following the passing of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13. The temple was reopened on Tuesday morning, after its about two-week closure to cater for waves of mourning crowds who have flocked to pay their respects to the late and beloved Thai monarch at the Grand Palace. International tourists, mostly wearing plain-coloured clothes, have begun visiting the Grand Palace, where the daily opening hours are set during 8:30am-3:30pm. For the sake of public safety amid a number of people crowding the Grand Palace currently, police not only give the direction to international tourists, but also ask them to pass a checkpoint for scanning their belongings before entering into the temple through the Wiset Chaisri Gate. Mourners have been, meanwhile, rearranged to access to the Grand Palace through the Manee Nopparat Gate, opposite the Thai Ministry of Defence, to pay their respects to the royal urn of the late and revered Thai monarch. After the Temple of Emerald Buddha is closed daily, mourners are allowed to enter the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall, where the royal urn of late His Majesty the King is place, through the Wiset Chaisri Gate from 4pm to 9pm. (TNA)