Bangkok Attraction - Vimanmek Palaces
 Vimanmek
Palces
VIMANMEK ROYAL MANSION 
Upon his return from Europe in 1897, King Rama V (1868-1910) used
his personal money to purchase orchards and paddy fields between
Padung Krungkasem Canal and Samsen Canal for the construction of
a royal garden which he named "The Dusit Garden".
The first permanent residence in the Dusit Garden was Vimanmek
Mansion, built In 1900 by royal command of king Rama V. The King
had the Munthaturattanaroj Residence in Chuthathujrachathan at Koh
Sri Chang, Chonburi, dismantled and rebuilt in the Dusit Garden
under the supervision of HRH Prince Narissaranuwaddhiwongse. The
celebration for the completion of Vimanmek Mansion was held on March
27,1901. King Rama V then moved his residence from the Grand Palace
to stay permanently at Vimanmek Mansion for five years until the
completion of Amporn Satarn Residence in 1906 where he lived until
his death in 1910, Vimanmek Mansion was then closed down and members
of the royal family moved back to the Grand Palace.
 Near
the end of his reign, King Rama VI (1910-1925) gave permission to
Her Majesty Indharasaksaji to stay at Vimanmek Mansion. After the
King's dealh, she moved to stay another residence in Suan Hong compound
north of Vimanmek Mansion and the Mansion was closed.
King Rama VII (1925-1934) renovated the Mansion several times.
For example, he ordered the installation of new electrical wires
and the repair of columns of the main pier at the artificial lake
In the garden. But starting in 1932, Vimanmek Mansion was used only
as a storage place of the Bureau of the Royal Household.
In 1982, on the auspicious occasion of the Bicentennial Anniversary
of Bangkok, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who had discovered that Vimanmek
Mansion, with its elaborate architectural style was still intact,
asked permission of His Majesty King Rama IX to renovate the Mansion
for use as a museum to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his
photographs, personal art and handicrafts, and to serve as a showcase
of the Thai national heritage for future generations.
Vimanmek Mansion is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion
with its elaborate architectural style reflecting a western influence.
The building has two right-angled wings, each wing 60 meters long
and meters high, and is three-storied except for the part where
King Rama V resided, which is octagonal and four-storied. Although
the ground floor is brick and cement, the upper floors are built
of beautiful golden teakwood. Altogether there are 31 exhibition
rooms, with the bedrooms, the throne room and the bathrooms maintaining
the atmosphere of the Thai past. Some display rooms house exhibitions
of Thai art including silverware, ceramics, crystal ware, and ivory.
Besides Vimanmek Mansion and Amporn Salam Residence in the compound
of Dusit Garden (or Dusit Palace as it was later renamed by King
Rama V), King Rama V allocated plots of land for the construction
of residences for his consort, princesses, and Other wives. He also
named gardens, canals, gates and roads after ancient Chinese ceramics
(commonly called "Khrueng Kirn Tung"), which were very
popular at the lime. Thus, the residence that belonged to HRH Srisawarindhira
was named Suan Hong Residence (Swan Garden Residence), These residences
located north of Vimanmek Mansion have been turned into museum buildings
and a hall for royal coaches on show to the public.
Museum Hours : 09,30 a.m.-3.15 p.m. every day,
including weekends and public holidays.
Traditional Thai dancing : Two shows daily at 10.30
a.m. and at 2.00 p.m. Proper attire Is required.
Location : Rajavithi Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Telephone: 628-6300-9
Admission fee: Adults 50 Baht, Students, monks,
nuns 20 Baht
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