Bang Pa-In Royal, Bangkok

Both Ayutthaya and Bangpain are located right by the Tyuphraya River. In Bangpain, the royal palace, which was built by the rulers Mongkut and Chulalongkon, and a number of other buildings built in European, Thai and Chinese styles is now located. In order to get to these places, tourists usually use either the train or the bus, but a boat trip from Bangkok will be much more interesting.

The Bang Pa-in Palace complex is the summer residence of the Thai kings from the 17th century. It is located 20 km south of Ayutthaya. Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun, aka 'Peking Palace', built at the end of the 19th century for Rama V by Chinese merchants, is open to the public. This luxurious Chinese-style palace built by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1889, stands out for its beauty, gilding, dark wood and inlaid with mother of pearl. In front of the palace grows banyan. Outside, the palace can be photographed as much as you like, not inside, even cameras cannot be held in your hands. On the first floor is the royal throne and a rest room.

King Chulalongkorn in 1881 built an observatory, from the top of which opens an excellent panorama of the palace complex. Rama V loved to watch the stars from here. Visitors are free to climb the stairs and enjoy the views from above. In the center of the pond, on the island, is the main attraction of the complex - the small pavilion of Phra Thinang Aisavan Thiphat.

Inside it stands the statue of King Chulalongkon (Rama V) in field marshal form. Rama V built himself on the territory of the complex a European-style palace (the so-called French house), it was recently restored. A sad story is connected with some of the monuments of the palace. In 1881, in front of the entire royal court, the young queen Sunanda sank.

The queen and her only daughter were going to Bang Pa-In Palace when the royal boat overturned. At that time, according to Thai law, touching the royal family was punishable by death, so the servants watched helplessly as they sank. King Chulalongkorn erected a monument in memory of his beloved wife. Another monument nearby is dedicated to members of the royal family who died in the same accident.

During its heyday, Ayutthaya (Ayutthaya), as the capital of the Thai kingdom, which lies 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, was so built up with temples that the brightness of a sunbeam reflected from gilded ornaments was visible for 3 kilometers around. Today, in the wide, green areas, the atmosphere is created by many sights resembling a cemetery of temples. The majestic gloomy ruins of red brick rise above the fields, recalling the past greatness of the city. They contrast sharply with the fragile architecture of modern temples. Several intact buildings help to imagine what the capital was during its heyday, and three excellent museums complete the picture.

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