Thailand is one of the world’s few remaining kingdoms, and is one that continues to thrive and shows every sign of continuing to do so for many years to come. The country has a diverse and rich heritage encompassing generations of kings who built various architectural testaments to their name and the lavish lives that they lived. The Royal Palace at Bang Pa-In is a striking example that even to this day is used by the current King of Thailand for royal events, yet usually opened to the public.
The palace is situated beside the Chao Phraya River, that flowing right through the city of Bangkok. The gorgeous summer palace is a must-see when it comes to any Chao Phraya cruise. Major vacation bodies such as Anantara Cruises, even list the summer palace at the top in their list of destinations that their water-bound adventure takes them to. The story of the summer palace begins in the seventeenth century, when King Prasat Thong, a Chief Minister who usurped throne, built a monastery on land that belonged to his mother. The land in question was located on Bang Pa-In Island, and the king proceeded to build a summer palace within close proximity to the monastery. The palace was built amidst vast gardens and an elaborate landscaping, and composed of four main buildings which are the throne room, the royal residence, a look-out tower and a beautiful pavilion, respectively. The palace however went through a dark phase during the 1700s and the early 1800s after the fall of Ayuthaya.
Eventually the fabled palace was revived by King Mongkut during the late 1800s, who added a few features of his own, and some of them were designed and constructed under the supervision of his son. The Royal family continues to use this palace today, but her gates are open to the public. This is surely a unique opportunity for you to experience a trip to a real-life full-fledged palace.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
