Whimsical Miscellany - Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

If you are at a loose end try something different; travel 60 km north of Bangkok to see a bit of whimsy on the banks of the Chaophraya River – Bang Pa-In Royal Palace or the Summer Palace of Thai royalty described by one wag as ‘Versailles meeting Thailand.’ Comprising of a series of 18th and 19th century European style large and small buildings, the gardens and bridges embellished with European statuary certainly reminds one a little bit of Paris. The original foundations for a summer palace were laid in the 17th century, but it was more or less abandoned until it was restored in the 19th century. The buildings and the landscaped garden are therefore of late 19th century origin, with its most recent restoration completed in 2001. The well maintained buildings and gardens are immaculate and fully worth a visit.

The complex is a collection of several buildings in various styles and sizes built in timber and of more solid materials. They include the Wehart Chumrun an opulent Chinese style two storied palace built by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1889. It features exquisite work in ebony, red lacquer and gold with mother of pearl inlays. It also contains a huge dragon sculpture carved from camel bone. Warophat Phiman a royal residence containing King Chulongkorn’s throne room is richly embellished in turn of the century European style augmented by Thai touches. Ho Withun Thasana or sage’s lookout tower is a multi coloured fanciful structure like something out of a children’s story book. A two storey museum built in the colonial manner originally intended as a dwelling for the king’s brothers now contains a small collection illustrating the history of the site. Aisawan Diphya Asana a beautiful Thai pavilion in the middle of the lake is the only Thai style building. The statue in it is of Rama V. There is also a simple memorial to Queen Sunanda Kumariratana, a marble monument built in 1881 with a dedication in English by King Chulalongkorn. Across the river is Wat Niwet Thamprawat built in 1878, a fully operational Buddhist temple built as a Gothic church with stained glass windows, an altar and all the other features of a church. A cable car takes visitors across the river to this very odd attraction. All the buildings are laid out along an artificial ornamental pond lined with formal plantings. The pond is used to divide the public areas from the residential ones. Some of the buildings are still used for state occasions from time to time. A whole day can be spent here among this fanciful collection of buildings and the beautiful formal gardens away from it all and be transported for a moment to a different time.

Take to the Chao Phraya River to experience Bangkok from a different perspective and to rediscover the past and present of the city. Take a trip with Anantara Cruises Thailand in their fleet of restored 100 year old rice barges and enjoy the city as never before. These Bangkok cruises take visitors to destinations they have not experienced from the water. Marvel at what might have been at Ayutthaya and view everyday riverside life or just lie back on the sun deck and enjoy the tropical greenery around. A Bangkok cruise tour is certainly one of the most innovative and luxurious ways to see the city and its environs.

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