The Thai government has announced that visitors to the Grand Palace will now be treated to an extra dose of culture as part of their visit.

Until recently, the B500 (around US$16) entry ticket covered access to the palace itself, as well as Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the adjoining museum.

Now, it also includes entry to a traditional khon (Thai masked dance) performance at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theater.

Located around 20 minutes' walk away, or a five-minute drive, visitors can take the inclusive shuttle bus from the palace's Biman Deves Gate to the theater, which will depart 30 minutes before each performance. There are five performances per day, each lasting 25 minutes, at 10:30am, 1pm, 4pm and 5:30pm.

The move is part of a year long celebration to mark UNESCO's 2018 inscription of Thailand's khon performance onto their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The khon performing art has centuries-old roots in the royal courts of Siam and Thailand. It combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements to depict the glory of Rama, a major deity who is an incarnation of Vishnu, known as the protector of justice and moral order.