Bangkok Attractions - Bangkok Historical Places

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Phra Sumeru Fortress, built in the reign of King Rama I, is the largest existing fortress of all 14 which now only two exist. The other is the Mahakan Fortress. The large area was established as a public park on the occasion of the 6th cycle of King Rama IX on the December 5th, 1999.

Entrance is free for all; prohibited areas are the fort itself (octagon shaped buildings with wall surrounding) and the Thai-style pavilion, which is for royal ceremonies.

Joe is an American who now prefers to live mostly in Thailand. "Vacation time for me is in Thailand."

The Ceremony of Triyampavai-Tripavai, was one of the 12 Royal ceremonies held in each month since the Sukhothai period. It was carried out in December, the first lunar month. By the Rattanakosin period, it had changed to the second lunar month, January.

It was regarded by the Brahmins as a new year's ceremony. Shiva was said to visit the Earth for 10 days every year. Brahmins would meet at Shiva's shrine and wash the bodies and hair of priests to welcome Shiva.

Swing Ceremony: Originates from a story in the scriptures. Concerned about the end of the world, Uma Devi contrived a bet with Shiva. A serpent was suspended between Putsa trees (Jujube) on the river, swinging back and forth between them. Shiva stood in its path on one leg with the other crossed. If the serpent struck Shiva and he fell, that would signify that the world would end. But Shiva did not fall, proving that the whole of creation was secured and strong, so Shiva won.

The Swing Ceremony compares the swing to the Putsa trees, while the space between its posts is the river. Naliwan is the serpent, with Phraya Yuen standing cross-legged on a benjamas wood.

Giant Swing: King Rama I ordered it built in front of the Devasathan at the centre of the city. It was moved to its present position in the reign of King Rama V, to make room for a gas plant. The ceremony was removed from the list of royal ceremonies in the reign of King Rama VII. At present, it may still be held with Royal sponsorship, but only in the Devasathan.

The 350.80 m. Krungthep Bridge opened on June 25, 1959 was the second bridge to be built across Chao Phraya River, following Puttayodfa or Memorial Bridge.

Apart from facilitating comunication across the Chao Phraya, the bridge can be opened to allow the passage of ships along the river.

In 1782, King Rama I was crowned as the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty. Having moved his capital from Thonburi to Bangkok, he ordered the ceremony to raise the traditional City Pillar on Sunday, April 21, 1782 at 6:45 am.

The City Pillar: Made from laburnum wood and decorated with heartwood, it is a decreed 108 inches of it are above ground and 79 inches buried in the soil. The top of the pillar is decorated in shellac and gold leaf and has a pointed tip. Inside is the birth certificate of the city.

When King Rama IV came to the throne, he saw that the Pillar was deteriorating and had it rebuilt. An expert in astrology, he improved the city's fortunes by holding a ceremony to inscribe the city's birth certificate on a gold bar of one baht in weight at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The shrine was rebuilt as the top of a prang, as at a pavilion in Ayutthaya, and great festivities were arranged when the city's birth certificate was placed in the City Pillar. Inside the shrine are the three original gods: Phra Seua Muang, Phra Song Muang and Phra Lak Muang. When Thailand weathered a crisis, King Rama V ordered the building of Phra Siam Devathiraj as another god guarding the city.

The original site of this university was Tha Phra Palace, the temple of Royal Grandchildren of King Rama I. It was later used as a residence for she sons of various kings, and HRH Prince Narissaranuwadtiwongse was the last prince to stay there.

Silpakorn was the first university of art in Thailand and was founded from the Fine Arts Department School which taught painting and sculpture to civil servants and other students who were accepted without fees. It was Prof. Silpa Bhirasri who laid the foundations for the study of European art here, and since then faculties have been opened in more subjects, such as Architecture, Archaeology and Interior Design.

Art Gallery: Temporary exhibitions are held here. It is in three sections: the main audience chamber of the old Tha Phra Palace, and galleries for Painting, Sculpture and Prints Faculty, and the Faculty of Interior Design.

Wang Tha Phra Library: Situated at the right of the university gate on Na Phralan Road, this is the biggest art library in the country, and a centre for artistic information.

Monument to Prof. Silpa Bhirasri: This stands in front of the Painting, Sculpture and Prints Faculty.

After the change of government in 1932, Thammasat University was founded to service the new political system governing the country.

On June 27, 1934, the day King Rama VIII gave a temporary constitution to the Thai people, the University of Jurisprudence and Politics was founded with Dr. Pridi Banomyong (Luang Pradit Manutham) as a rector.

In its first period, the university was known as 'a "knowledge market." It did not receive a state budget, and charged low tuition fees which were used for the university's expenses. The name was later changed to Thammasat University for political reasons.

Dome Building: The symbol of the university, this was originally four old military buildings. The architect for the conversion was Jitsen Aphaiyawong, who built a roof joining the four buildings and crowning it with a spire. Now only two buildings remain.

Underneath the roof is a clock, which makes this building the university's clock tower. The room beneath the clock was formerly the office of Dr. Pridi Banomyong,who founded the university.

When HRH Crown Prince Vajirunhis passed away, his father King Rama V remarked that it would be inappropriate to build large funeral buildings for a single purpose. He therefore ordered HRH Prince Naris to build the Thawornwatthu Building insead of a temporary funeral building. When the Royal funeral was complete, the king donated the building for the purpose of educating monks at i novices. It was then named "Sanghisenas Ratcha vitayalai."

Construction of Thawornwatthu Building was completed in the reign of King Rama VI, and it was first given as a Royal library for monks in Bangkok. In the reign of King Rama VII, many more books were added to the library, and the king decided to institute the Vachirayan and Vachiravudh Royal Libraries. He gave Sivamokkhaphiman hall in the Front Palace to be the Vachirayan Library. Scriptures, state papers and correspondence were kept here. The Thawornwatthu Building itself was used for printed material, photographs and newspapers, and was known as the "Vachiravudh Library."

The opening of the country in the reign of king Rama IV led to important changes to Bangkok with the visits of foreign diplomats, traveIlers, traders and missionaries, and it brought to the city its first hotel in 1865.

At that time, two Danish seamen, Captains Jarck and Salje, got together to found the Oriental Hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River .

Old Building: S. Cardu, an Italian architect, designed this first building, and its facade is the original symbol of the hotel. The suites in this wing of the hotel are named after writers who haves stayed there, such as Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad.

Oriental Hoteliers' School: The school building on the opposite bank of the river was once the house of Phraya Mahaisawan, the first mayer of Thonburi. He played a major role in developing the Thonburi side of the the city.

Originally called Norasingh Residence King Rama VI commissioned this as a residence for General Chao Phraya Ram Rakop. Later, the government bought it and obtained the right of ownership from the general's heir. Since then it ha been the Government House and the venue where official guests of the government are entertained.

Thaikoofah Mansion: Formerly named Kraisorn Mansion, this two-storey building combines the Italian Renaissance style with Gothic pointe arches in the exterior walls. There are frescoes o the main ceilings. The building contains an No Room for receiving foreign dignitaries. To its right are the Purple reception room, and the Dome room where official guests may be accommodated

Nareesmosom Mansion: formerly called Pr Kan Building, this is the administrative office 0 the Government House.

Santimaitree Mansion: This is made up o two buildings which surround an open area wit a fountain in the centre. The front building was built when F.M. Plaek Pibulsongkram was prim minister, the rear building in the time of F.M. Sari Thanarat. Both buildings are used for reception and seminars.

Rama VI bridge was built in 1922 during the reign of King Rama VI at Bangson Sub-District . It was designed to be a rail link between the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and the western bank, and thus connect the railway system of Bangkok with the west and south of the country. The bridge has a beam of eight metres, allowing medium-sized ships to pass beneath it.

During World War II, the bridge was severely damaged. Repairs were started in 1950, during the reign of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The present Rama VI Bridge is different from the original one, as it is built in the style of the "Warren Lype Bridge", and it carries road traffic as well as the railway.

the past, parli ment meetings were he in the hall on the upp level of Anantasamako Throne Hall. As the gover ment expanded, permi sion was requested fr the king for a new building, which was erected on the land once belonging to the Tanker Unit of the Police De artment.

Parliament Building: Apart from being used for sessions of Parliament, it also houses the office of the house-speaker, government press' release room, parliament museum and a library. Statute of King Rama VII: It is situated at the front of the building. Engraved at the base is the king's signature and a handwritten statement endowing the first permanent constitution of Thailand on December 10, 1932.

King Rama VII Museum: It is located at the Secretariat of the House of Representative office. Displayed in the museum are King Rama VII's personal effects donated by the late HM Queen Rambhai Barni, such as collections of lighters, books, clothes and spectacles

King Rama V ordered the building of the palace near Dusit Garden Palace. The Chitralada Garden Mansion was intended for HRH Crown Prince Vajiravudhand the Parus-sakkawan Garden Mansion, literally "marian plum garden" was intended for F.M. HRH Prince Chakrabongse.

When HRH Crown Prince Vajiravudhcame to the throne as King Rama VI he took up residence at Dusit garden Palace. He exchanged Chitralada Garden Mansion for a plot of land near Wasukree pier w n FM. HRH Prince Chakrabongseand ordered the demolition of the wall separating the two palaces. The king then had a new wall built with the Royal insignia of FM. HRH Prince Chakrabongse, the chakra (or discus) and club, at the gate.

Today, the palace is in the care of the Office of Nat anal Police. The Police Museum once located in it has been moved to Police Cadet Academy at Samphan, Nakorn Prathom province.

This is the historical place .vhere the People's Party read the announcement after it won the revolution that converted the government system from absolute monarchy to democracy with the King as the head of the nation,which signifies the beginning of the democratic system in Thailand.

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