Jan 22 2009
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Bangkok’s Grand Palace, completed in 1785, was for about
160 years, not only the official home of the Kings of
Siam, which later became Thailand but within it’s large
grounds it included all government administration
departments including the mint.
After the mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol who was
found shot in the palace in 1946, his brother King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on
December 5, 1927, and is now the longest reigning monarch
in the world, decided to move permanently to the Chitralada
Palace. The circumstances surrounding the previous King’s
death is even today, a subject to be avoided, when talking
with the Thai people.
Built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with
European designs, The Grand Palace’s huge complex
is without doubt one of Thailand’s major tourist
highlights. It is still very much in use today as
many royal ceremonies are performed here by the
King every year. The Palace grounds also contain
the offices and buildings of the Bureau of the Royal
Household, the Office of the Private Secretary to
the King and Royal Institute of Thailand.
More about the palace, how to get there and very
important, what to wear, will follow.
Watch this space!
