Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

Bang Pa-In Summer Palace Bang Pa-In Palace dates to the 17th century when King Prasat Thong originally constructed a palace on Bang Pa-In Island in the Chao Phraya River. It is not known how long the palace was used before the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya in 1767 but nothing remained in 1807. King Rama IV, better known as King Mongkut (1851 - 1868) had a residence, Wat Niwet Thamprawat, constructed on the outer island which was built by his son and heir King Chulalongkorn. The present palace dates from King Chulalongkorn (1868 - 1910). Most of the palace buildings still standing today date to the period 1872 - 1889. No longer used as a summer palace by the current royal family Bang Pa-In is occasionally used for receptions and banquets. The palace consists of an inner and outer palace. The inner palace contained the residence buildings and is reached via a covered bridge (left). The covered bridge allowed the court ladies to look out without being seen. The outer palace was used for official functions.

	<< To reach the palace we walked along the river. The day was extremely hot, >> in the low nineties, and Anne took a few minutes refuge under a flowering tree.
	<< Each of the palace buildings was based on a different architectural style from various countries that the King had visited. This building shows the Greek influence with its large columns. Ho Withun Thasana, the tower and >> sage's lookout, built in 1881 served as a tower for viewing the countryside.

<< The Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun, Royal Residence Heavenly Light, a Chinese style mansion build in 1889. The residence was being built by the Chinese people when they, for some reason, were sent home. The Thai people then finished its construction.

<< Anne, Darla and Ken standing by the door to Phar Thinang Wehart, Royal Residence Heavenly Light. A shrine with a golden statue of >> Buddha on the grounds of Bang Pa-In Palace.

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Planning the trip and Getting There Singapore -- Orchard Road | Chinatown | Merlion Park | Arab Town and Indian District | Tang Dynasty City | Singapore Zoo | Mandai Orchid Garden | Sentosa Island Hong Kong -- Hong Kong Island | Hong Kong at Night and the New Territories | Lok Ma Chau | Kowloon | Causeway Bay Macau -- Monte Hill and St. Paul's | A-Ma Temple and Lou Lem Ioc Garden People's Republic of China -- The Border and Farming Village | Lunch and the Ox | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Home | Chinese Market Bangkok -- The City and Weekend Market | The Grand Palace | Grand Palace (Emerald Buddha) | Grand Palace (Dusit Group) | Ayutthaya (Reclining Buddha) | Ayutthaya (Ruins) | Chao Phraya River | Top of this Page Phuket -- The Hotel and Popeye | Phuket Island | The Beaches and Local Wat | Promthep Cape Japan -- Tokyo | Niko & Toshogu Shrine | Osaka & Kyoto | Visiting Friends | Nara | Hiroshima & Miyajima | Going Home

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