Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (), also known as the Summer Palace, is a

palace A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...

complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

in Bang Pa-in District,

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, or locally and simply Ayutthaya (historically Juthia or Judia), is one of the central provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ang Thong, Lopburi, Saraburi, Pathum Than ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

History

King

Prasat Thong Prasat ThongThe Royal Institute. List of monarchs Ayutthaya''. (, ; c. 1599–1655; 1629–1655) was the first king of the Prasat Thong dynasty, the fourth dynasty of the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom. Before being king, he defeated a rebellion led ...

constructed the original complexRajanubhab, D., 2001, Our Wars With the Burmese, Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd., in 1632, but it fell into disuse and became overgrown in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, until King

Mongkut Mongkut (18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama IV. He reigned from 1851 until his death in 1868. The reign of Mongkut was marked by significant modernization ini ...

began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...

Buildings

Amidst vast gardens and landscaping stand the following buildings: Wehart Chamrun (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), a royal residence; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly painted lookout tower; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond and

Wat Niwet Thammaprawat Wat Niwet Thammaprawat Ratchaworawihan () is a Buddhist temple (''wat'') of the Dhammayut Order, located within the grounds of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace in Thailand's Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Founded in 1878, it is remarkable among T ...

, a royal temple of the palace. The palace remains largely open to visitors. Image:Bang Pa-In lookout tower.jpg, ''Ho Withun Thasana'', or Sages' Lookout Image:Bang Pa-In palace.jpg, ''Wehart Chamrun'', or Heavenly Light Image:Marcy Aisawan.jpg, Aisawanthipphaya-At Pavilion from the bridge Image:Ban Len, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13160, Thailand - panoramio - Mozhar (20).jpg, Warophat Phiman Image:Sabakran Rajaprayoon.jpg, Saphakhan Ratchaprayun Residential Hall Image:Uthayan Phumisathian2.png, Uthayan Phumisathian Residential Hall

Milestones

* On 31 May 1880, King Chulalongkorn had a royal command to arrange a royal barge procession to go to Bang Pa-in Palace with every wife but because he was not able to follow a scheduled timing, he asked for a royal entourage to head to the palace first. While on the journey, the ship of Queen Sunanda Kumariratana suffered an accident causing her and their daughter Princess Kannabhorn Bejaratana to drown. After the accident, King Chulalongkorn ordered to build a marble monument at Bang Pa-In Palace in remembrance of the Queen and Princess. * The royal funeral ceremony of the Princess

Srivilailaksana Srivilailaksana, Princess of Suphan Buri province, Suphanburi (; ; 24 July 1868 – 26 October 1904), was the Princess of Siam (later Thailand). A member of Thai royal family, Siamese royal family, she was a daughter of Chulalongkorn, Chulalon ...

was located in the ''Aisawanthipphaya Pavilion''. The cremation ceremony was at Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, which is widely known to be a scared place and artwork, until it is well known among the royal servants that anyone who does not attend a royal event in the ''Aisawanthipphaya Pavilion'' is considered to be an outsider to the royal society. *

King Rama VI Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and promote Siamese national ...

graciously performed the royal wedding of Prince

Prajadhipok Prajadhipok (8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941) was the seventh king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VII. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and social changes during the 1932 Siamese revolution. He i ...

and Princess

Rambai Barni Rambai Barni (, , ), formerly Rambai Barni Svastivatana (, ; born 20 December 1904 – 22 May 1984), was Queen of Siam as the wife of King Prajadhipok of Siam. Early life Princess Rambai Barni Svastivatana was born on 20 December 1904, ...

on 26 August 1918 at the Warophat Phiman throne hall, which is widely considered the first royal wedding ceremony after enacting the royal rule on the marriage of the master of the royal family. It is said that the gift of the wedding ceremony was a diamond ring. * Bang Pa-In Palace is used to welcome many royal visitors in the reign of King Chulalongkorn. In addition, during the reign of King

Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 192713 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 1946 until Death and funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej, his death in 2016. His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any List of Thai mo ...

, it was used to endorse and give royal guests, such as

Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, ; born 31 January 1938) is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as List of monarchs of the Netherlands, Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013. Beatrix was born ...

Margrethe II of Denmark Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until Abdication of Margrethe II, her abdication on 14 January 2024. Ha ...

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (Elena María Isabel Dominica de Silos de Borbón y de Grecia; born 20 December 1963), is the first child and eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain, Queen Sofía. As the eldest sister of ...

and

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

Footnotes

The official English names of buildings within the complex as appear on the palace's printed map differ slightly from RTGS transliteration. Both renditions are listed as follows:

References

External links

Official website at palaces.thai.net
{{Royal palaces in Thailand Royal residences in Thailand Buildings and structures in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province Tourist attractions in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province 1632 establishments in Thailand Buildings and structures on the Chao Phraya River