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Vimanmek Royal Mansion - Bangkok Sightseeing Tours
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 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.
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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.
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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
(c) Provided by Tourism
Authority of Thailand
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