Bang Pa-In Palace
Bang Pa-In Palace is not situated in Ayutthaya city
proper, but is well worth making an effort to get to see. The palace
comprises a collection of buildings of various ages and various architectural
styles surrounded by a lake. Originally built by King Prasattong,
Bang Pa-In was the residence of all the kings in the Ayutthaya period
but it was let unoccupied when Bangkok became the capital. Its importance
was reestablished in 1851 when King Mongkut restored the palace and
monarchs resumed residing there. Bang Pa-In Palace compound houses
a number of important buildings. The public can only go inside two
of these building: Phra Thinang Wehat Chamrun - a Chinese-style building
intended for use during rainy seasons – and Phra Thinang Withun Thatsana
- a tower-like ‘observatory’ with a number of balconies to take in
good views of the palaces gardens. Other buildings worthy of note
include Phra Thinang Aisawan Thippa –a pavilion standing in the middle
of the lake - and Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman – a two-storey building
that housed King Mongkut's apartments and reception hall.
Details: There is a 100 Baht entrance fee for Bang Pa-In
Palace and it opens daily between 08:30 and 12:00 and 13:00 and
16:00.
How to get there: Bang Pa-In Palace is often approached
as a tour from Bangkok and often combined with a visit to Wat Niwet
Thamaprawat which is directly opposite the palace. It is possible
to get there yourself by van from Chao Phrom Market in Ayutthaya
(fare 10 Baht) or bus from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok
(fare around 20 Baht for an ordinary bus and around 50 Baht for
an air-conditioned bus). There are also river tours available directly
from Bangkok.
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