The Phya Thai Palace ( ''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 District of

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, 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 estim ...

. King

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

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 Royal Ploughing Ceremony (, ; , ; , ), also known as The Ploughing Festival, is an ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries to mark the traditional beginning of the rice growing season. The royal ploughing ceremony, called (, ) or (), was ...

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 (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 nationa ...

, Queen

Saovabha Saovabha Phongsri (; Royal Thai General System of Transcription, RTGS: Saowapha PhongsiPronunciation) was an agnatic half-sister, royal wife and queen consort of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh (Rama ...

, 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 (, 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 Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the officia ...

until his death. King

Rama VII 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 Siamese revolution of 1932, 19 ...

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 (; ) 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 sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...

and has since changed its name to the Phramongkutklao Hospital ( ''Rong Phayaban Phra Mongkut Klao'').

Miscellaneous

The palace was featured in the famous The Amazing Race 14 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