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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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