Grand Palace

Advertisement

Currently called “ The Ancient Palace”, this residential dwelling for every king was located close to the city wall. Important buildings inside the Grand Palace compound are:
Wihan Somdet Hall : The hall was decorated with gold leaf and surrounded by cloisters. It was used for various royal ceremonies including coronations.
Sanphet Prasat Hall : This building, in the same design as Wihan Somdet Hall, was used by the king to welcome foreign envoys and visitors.
Suriyat Amarin Hall : A four-gabled building of sandstone and brick, it is close to the riverside city wall. It was used for observing the royal barge processions.
Chakkrawat Phaichayon Hall : This three-gabled hall is on the inner eastern city wall in front of the Grand Palace. It was used to view processions and military exercises.
Trimuk Hal : l Located behind the Sanphet Prasat Hall, this hall is believed to have been the royal consorts’ living quarters with a regal leisure garden.
Banyong Rattanat Hall : This four-gabled hall is located on an island in a pond at the back of the Grand Palace.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet : Originally used as a royal chapel. This large temple compound contains a line of three tall chedis. This line of chedis has become widely identifiable with the Ayutthaya style.
Wihan Phramongkhon Bophit : Phra Mongkhon Bophit, a large bronze cast Buddha image, was originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east, but later transferred to the west and covered. In the 1767 sacking of Ayutthaya, the building and the image were badly damaged by fire; the renovated ensemble is not as finely crafted as the original. The open area east of the Wihan was formerly Sanam Luang, where the royal cremation ceremonies took place.
Wat Phraram : This monastery is situated next to a pond, outside the Grand Palace compound to the east, with a pond in front. King Ramesuan had it built where King U-Thong’s royal cremation ceremony took place. It now also functions as Phra Ram Public Park.
Wat Mahathat : Located in front of the Grand Palace to the east near Pa Than Bridge, this temple was constructed in King Borom Rachathirat I’s reign.
Wat Ratchaburana : This temple is located near Pa Than Bridge opposite Wat Mahathat. King Borom Rachathirat II commanded two Chedis built where Chao Ai and Chao Yi engaged in elephant-back combat during which both were killed. Later, he added a wihan so as to create a temple.
Suan Somdet : Situated on U-Thong Road to the southwest of the city, this is a large public park with a display of various plants referred to in Thai literature.

Ads

Ebook version