The Summer Palace [ Bang Pa-In Palace ] is located 30 kilometers south of Ayutthaya on route to Ayutthaya
and is on a small island called Bang Pa-In in the Chao Phraya River. The Palace
was commissioned in 1632 by King Prasat Thong in the late Ayutthaya
Period.
It was deserted following the sacking of Ayutthaya and the founding
of the Chakri Dynasty in Bangkok until its restoration 80 years later.
The Palace was revived by King Chulalongkorn of the Chakri
Dynasty. Most of what we see today was constructed between 1872-1889.
The Palace is a collection of different styles of buildings set in a
landscape and water setting. The mansions reflect Chinese, Swiss,
Khmer, Thai and general European styles of architecture. As with other
Thai Royal palaces this compound is divided into two sections, the
Inner Palace and the Outer Palace. The Palace grounds are significant in that the mixture of styles reflects the era of transformation, influences and later westernization of the period.
Bang Pa-In Palace is open to the public daily from 8.30 am until 3.30 pm.
Tourists enter through the South Gate where there is a shop at which you can purchase guide booklets and we strongly recommend you acquire these first so as to greatly enhance your understanding and visit experience.
The History of Bang Pa-In Palace. A local, Chao Phraya Kalahomee Suriyawongsa became King of Ayutthaya in 1630 and ruled until 1655. He became known as King Prasat Thong. King Prasat Thong had his home on the Island and this was also where he was born and later declared King. A pavilion, '' Aisawan-dhipaya-asana'' was constructed to mark what the King declared was '' born here and made King''. He subsequently arranged the digging of canals which remain today. After that time the Ayutthaya Kings made Bang Pa-In their residence which was close to the City of Ayutthaya. The original works of Kinmg Prasat Thong still there to see today are, the Pagoda at Chumpon Nigayararm Monastery, the Canal that cuts through the existing islet marking the division between the Summer Palace and Nives- Dhammaprawat Monastery and some of the ponds around the Summer Palace. King Narai was born in 1632 and to mark the occasion King Prasat Thong had the Pavilion built over Bang Pa-In Islet. The Palace became deserted upon the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767.
Restoration commenced during the reign of Rama IV. During the reign of Rama V most of what you see today was constructed. Henceforth the Summer Palace was used as a location to receive state visitors and hold state banquets. An example of such events was the reception in 1890 for Grand Duke Czarvitch [ later Czar Nicholas II of Russia ] and Prince George of Greece.
Bang Pa-in Summer Inner Palace Ayutthaya
The Summer Palace is divided into two sections, the Outer Palace and the Inner Palace. The two areas were divided by a wall around each compound and an inter connected canal also served as another dividing line. Therefor gates were provided along the wall or across the canal [ as with Sakhonprapas Gate ]. There are eight Gates one can still see today.
The major attractions in the Inner Court are; Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun Residential Hall, Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian, Residential Hall, Ho Withun Thasana [ Tower ], Bubpa Prapas Pavilion, the various houses and mansions for members of the Inner Court, the Memorial to H.M.Queen Sunanda Kumariratna and the Rajanusorn Memorial.
Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian.
The existing building was constructed in 1994 and is made of iron and concrete. It is of Victorian architecture design. The original was destroyed by fire in 1939. The original was built in 1877 and was made of wood. Today the building serves as a residence for Their Majesties and is a place to receive State visitors.
Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun Residential Hall. This two storey residence was completed in 1889 and took ten years to construct. It is built in a Chinese style and has Chinese decor and art through out. This is the most interesting and well worth a visit within.
Ho Withun Thasana. Ho Withun Thasana Tower was constructed in 1881. It is, as depicted here in the image, a dodecahedral three storey tower about 30 meters high. There are 112 internal steps to the top beneath the crescent roof. The building is colored red and yellow and is a mix of European styles. Visitors can climb the stairs for the surrounding views.
The Memorial to H.M.Queen Sunanda Kumariratna. The Memorial to H.M.Queen Sunanda Kumariratna is a telling contrast to the monuments enjoyed by the Kings and their families, it illustrates how mortal each of us are. H.M.Queen Sunanda Kumariratna died in a boating accident on the Chao Phraya River. The vessel in which she was traveling was overturned and she was trapped inside and left to struggle for her life. She was then five months pregnant. She died because the then law prescribed that any person who touched a member of the Royal Family would be put to death, hence no one dared to touch her to save her, in fact due to the command of then court guard Phraya Montri, all were forbidden from approaching the royal consort or getting near the royal vessel.
The Mansions and Houses of members of the Inner Court. On the northern and eastern sides of the Inner Court are numerous brick and or wooden mansions and houses for members of the Inner Court. Essentially this refers to ladies and their children. These are all in western style.
Bang Pa-in Summer Outer Palace Ayutthaya
The Outer Palace section consists of buildings for public and ceremonial
purposes and the Inner section is reserved for the King and his
immediate family.
The principal buildings of the Outer Palace include; The King Prasat Thong Shrine [ Ho Haem Montien Devaraj ], The Aaisawan-dhipaya-asana Pavilion, Phra Thinang Varoghas Bimarn Residential Hall, The Royal Raft, The Doll Bridge, Sabakarn Rajaprayoon Residential Hall, The Sentinel and Kragome Trae.
The King Prasat Thong Shrine [ Ho Haem Montien Devaraj ] is located under the Bodhi tree beside the pond near where tourists enter from the South. Inside is a gold leafed statue of King Prasat Thong. The monument is of Khmer design in the form of an ancient Khmer Prang. On the other side of the Bodhi tree are ancient Thai boundary stones which previously were at Mahathar Monastery nearby. On top of the monument is a five prong Trident as also can be seen at Wat Arun in Bangkok.
The Aaisawan-dhipaya-asana Pavilion. Construction of the present pavilion commenced in 1872 and took four years to complete. Today it is a miniature pavilion hall built in the style of architecture of Aphonbimoka Prasat Pavilion in the Grand Palace. It is build in the tradition of old Ayutthaya. The main hall is made of wood and it has multiple tiered roofs and balconies jutting out on the four sides. The roof has a traditional turret top with Grarudas positioned on each side. The bronze statue now inside the Pavilion is of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V.
Sabakarn Rajaprayoon Residential Hall. The Sabakarn Rajaprayoon Residential Hall is the two storey building opposite the pond and The King Prasat Thong Shrine. It was completed in 1876 and was used as a residence for immediate members of Rama V 's family. It now serves as building for a permanent exhibition of the history of Bang Pa-In Palace.
Phra Thinang Varoghas Bimarn Residential Hall. The Phra Thinang Varoghas Bimarn Residential Hall was constructed in 1872 and reconstructed in 1885 when it was reduced to a one storey building. The former building was used as a throne hall for the King to meet his ministers and also to hold royal functions. The interior is well maintained.
The Doll Bridge. The ''Doll Bridge'' [ as seen in the image here ] offers an excellent location for photography of buildings in the Outer Court. On it are a selection of European style doll like sculptures and ''Greek'' style sculptures. These
statues are western, not Asian or Thai.
The Saowaros Bridge. This connects the Phra Thinang Varobhas Bimarn in the Outer Court to the Devaraj-Kanlai Gate in the Inner Court. On this bridge is a further division of a louvred wall that runs along the center of the bridge to form two walkways,
one for officials of the Middle Court and the other for the ladies of
the Inner Court.
The Sentinel. The Sentinel is located by the river towards the west next to the Royal Raft, also site of the pier for the Royal Barge. This single storied building housed the guards on duty while the King and other members of the entourage were in residence.
Kragome Trae. The Kragome Trae is the octagonal roofed pavilion on the east side of the Doll's Bridge.
The Royal Raft. The The Royal Raft was constructed in the reign of Rama V. It is made of Golden Teak and the exterior is Thai. The interior is luxurious. It was used to travel the rivers in Thailand.
