Bangkok Magazine: Suan Dusit Palace

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Suan Dusit Palace

By the reign of King Rama V, the inner court which was the residential part of the Grand Palace had become extremely crowded with continual additions of buildings to accommodate its growing population. The Palace had become stiflingly hot during the summer, the passage of air being blocked by the closely clustered buildings, and epidemics once started were liable to spread easily within its crowded compound. The King, who enjoyed taking long country walks for exercise, often felt unwell after prolonged sojourns within the confines of the Grand Palace. He found relief in making frequent out-of-city trips (often incognito) to visit his subjects in various parts of the country.

During his European tour in 1897, the King saw the advantages of the European royal residences with spacious gardens on the outskirts of capital cities. On his return to Bangkok, he started the project of building a garden palace not too great a distance from the Grand Palace which constituted the nucleus of the city. Using his private funds from the Privy Purse, he bought several connected pieces of farmland and orchards covering the area between Klong Padung Krung Kasem and Klong Sam Sen, naming the area "Suan Dusit" (celestial garden). The first building in Suan Dusit was a single story wooden structure used by the King, his consorts and his children for an occasional stay. It was inaugurated on March 1st, 1899, with traditional ceremonies and entertainments, and the King spent his first night within the royal compound named Suan Dusit Palace, later to be known as Dusit Palace.

Besides Vimanmek Mansion, King Rama V allocated plots of land for the construction of residences for his consorts, princesses and other wives. Now, these residences are no longer used by the Royal Family and were transformed into museums and halls available for public viewing. The Vimanmek Mansion is often called the "King Rama V House" and is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion.

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All pictures were provided and this article was based upon materials from the Public Relations Section, Royal Household Bureau, Used with permission.