Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (Thai: พระราชวังบางปะอิน), also known as the Summer Palace (Thai: พระราชวังฤดูร้อน), is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the Chao Phraya River in tambon Ban Len, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in Thailand.

King Prasat Thong constructed the original complex in 1632, but it fell into disuse and became overgrown in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, until King Mongkut began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by Mongkut's son and successor King Chulalongkorn.

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, a royal temple of the palace. The palace remains largely open to visitors.

On 31 May 1880, King Chulalongkorn arranged a Royal Barge Procession to go to Bang Pa-in Palace with all of his wives. During the procession, the steam boat Sarawan collided with the royal barge that was carrying Queen Sunanda Kumariratana and their daughter, Princess Kannabhorn Bejaratana. The barge capsized, and the queen and princess drowned. After the accident, King Chulalongkorn constructed a marble monument at Bang Pa-In Palace in remembrance of the Queen and Princess.

Princess Srivilailaksana died on 26 October 1904, at age 36. Her funeral ceremony was held in the Aisawanthipphaya Pavilion, and her cremation ceremony was held at Wat Niwet Thammaprawat. Princess Chandra Saradavara, died on 21 February 1905, from an illness contracted while paying respects to Srivilailaksana (her half-sister) at Bang Pa-In Palace.

King Rama VI performed the royal wedding of Prince Prajadhipok and Princess Rambai Barni on 26 August 1918 at the Warophat Phiman throne hall.

Bang Pa-In Palace was used to welcome many royal visitors during the reign of King Chulalongkorn.

Text adapted from “Bang Pa-In Royal Palace” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace ranks #1,100 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #5 of the 14 mapped in Thailand. Founded 1632, it is older than 29% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 580 atlas entries founded in the 17th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 5,679 times in the last 60 days, more than 86% of the atlas. 1 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Bangkok, 54 km away. See how Thailand compares in the castle statistics.

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