Thailand Day 10b
Thailand Day
         

 

Thailand Day 4 - from Bangkok to Ayutthaya - The Bang Pa-In

We left Bangkok early and traveled north towards Ayutthaya, our next overnight stay. Only 37 miles north of Bangkok is Bang Pa-In, a previous summer retreat for the kings. It was originally established here in 1632, but very little remains of the original structures, as they stopped using it for a few centuries. Then King Chulalongkorn decided to rebuild and use the area in the late 1800's. The result is an interesting mixture of Chinese, Thai and Western buildings. The King's wife and her children drowned in the river on which this retreat is built in 1880. None of the people watching tried to help her, because the law stated that if a commoner touched a member of the royalty, they would be put to death. A memorial to her was built and the retreat was no longer used as a summer home, altho it is sometimes used for receptions.
A Chinese monk
This is a Banyan tree (they have really wild root growth). Around it are headstones representing various rulers.
This is the Aisawan Pavilion, with a statue of King Chulalongkom inside. Note the beautiful building in the background done in European style. That is the GATEWAY to the inner Residential area of the king's palace (the yellow building below) accessed by a walkway across the pond/river on which this entire compound is built.
Another view of the Pavilion on the lake with life-size statue of the king who built it inside. For a close-up of the pavilion, Click here
The Royal Summer Residence - for a close-up of the front of the building, click here
Garden sculpture - herd of elephants!
The Peking Palace, a gift from the Chinese Thai to the king, made from materials imported from China. It was built in 1899, and was the favorite residence of the king . Inside are altars and beautiful Chinese furniture (we did not go inside). See close-up of building and Banyan tree - click here

This wooden gothic tower was reconstructed in 1990. The original, which was built in the 17th century, was destroyed by fire in 1938.

See a close-up view (see how well the people are visible in this photo when the image is at 100%) - Click here

  

Go to Day 4b - Ayutthaya and ancient ruins - click here