The Phya Thai Palace ( th, วังพญาไท ''Wang Phaya Thai'') or Royal Phya Thai Palace ( ''Phra Ratcha Wang Phaya Thai'') is on the banks of the Samsen Canal ( ''Khlong Sam Sen'') on Rajavithee Road ( ''Thanon Ratchawithi'') in the

Ratchathewi Ratchathewi ( th, ราชเทวี, ) is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. Clockwise from the north, its neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan and Dusit. History The district was part o ...

District of

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

. King

Rama V Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...

bestowed on it the royal name of the Royal Residence of the Phya Thai ( ''Phra Tamnak Phaya Thai'') or the Phya Thai Palace, with Phya Thai ( ''Phaya Thai'') meaning "lord of the Thais", during his reign and so it was built with this bearing on design.

History

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Construction of Phya Thai Palace began in 1909. It was built at Rama V's behest so that he might stay there and look out over the farms, plantations, and livestock in the area. The palace grounds included those areas directly opposite the palace. He also had a complex included in the compound where the

Royal Ploughing Ceremony The Royal Ploughing Ceremony ( km, ព្រះរាជពិធីបុណ្យច្រត់ព្រះនង្គ័ល ; si, වප් මඟුල් ''Vap Magula;'' th, พระราชพิธีจรดพระนังคั� ...

might take place, since used on many occasions. The Phya Thai Palace was only used by King Rama V for a short time as he died several months after its completion. During the reign of King

Rama VI Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...

, Queen Saovabha, then Queen Mother, was invited to live there, which she did until her death in 1920. Rama VI then had the palace demolished, leaving only the Devaraja Sabharamaya Hall ( ''Phra Thi Nang Thewarat Sapharom'') and Throne Hall, and ordered that many new palace halls be built together to form a new Royal Phya Thai Palace. King Rama VI lived at the palace until the later years of his reign, when he moved to stay at the Chakraput Piman Hall ( ''Phra Thi Nang Chakkraphat Phiman'') of the

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ba ...

until his death. King

Rama VII Prajadhipok ( th, ประชาธิปก, RTGS: ''Prachathipok'', 8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941), also Rama VII, was the seventh monarch of Siam of the Chakri dynasty. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and ...

ordered the palace be converted into an international hotel, an enterprise which ended five years later. Phya Thai Palace then became the site of the first Thai radio broadcast station. Later, after a change of government the palace became a clinic for the

Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's ...

and has since changed its name to the

Phramongkutklao Hospital Phramongkutklao Hospital () is a hospital located in Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is a military hospital for the Royal Thai Army and a teaching hospital for Phramongkutklao College of Medicine which trains doctors for the Royal Thai A ...

( ''Rong Phayaban Phra Mongkut Klao'').

Miscellaneous

The palace was featured in the famous

The Amazing Race 14 ''The Amazing Race 14'' is the fourteenth season of the American reality television show ''The Amazing Race''. It featured eleven teams of two competing in a race around the world. The season premiered on CBS on February 15, 2009, and the seaso ...

as the 8th and last non-elimination pit-stop.

External links

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Ministry of Defence (of Thailand)
{{Royal palaces in Thailand Former royal residences in Bangkok Ratchathewi district Museums in Bangkok Historic house museums in Thailand Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok