The Palace at Bang Pa-In

Our first stop was the palace at Bang Pa-In, which was the historic summer retreat of Chkri, the Thai ruling dynasty. Much of it was constructed originally under King Prusat on the banks of the Pa Sak River. It was abandoned after the Burmese took the area, and then left abandoned for about 80 years until Rama IV rebuilt it in the late 19th century. As we’ve already learned, he was quite the little builder, having a penchant for buildings with his name on them.

The palace was abandoned again when tragedy struck. When the King was delayed in Bangkok, the Queen went ahead and drowned when her boat capsized. Although she could easily have been rescued by the people watching, they stood by and didn’t touch her because no commoner could touch a royal person upon pain of death.

There are several palaces or villas and two throne halls, one in the Chinese style and one a copy of Versaille.

Bang Pa-In was named so because an earlier ruler, we’re not sure which one, had a fling with a local girl. The name stuck – Bang is the region or neighborhood, Pa means at and In was her name. Thus, the name is “the place where the king boinked In.”

Loosely translated.

This was another place where photographs were not allowed for the most part, so all we have are some outside shots. As is customary, there is a Temple associated with the palace.

There was a tower, which we climbed as far as allowed, about 5 stories. You could get a nice view of the grounds and buildings from there.

There’s a Chinese palace that was a gift to the king by a wealthy businessperson. It was originally used as visitors quarters, but now is a museum.

The colorful building in the middle of the pond is the symbol for the palace. The decorations along the gable and the point on it are commemorative of the Garruda, which is the vehicle of the God Vishnu, from Indian Hinduism. There’s also a gigantic snake involved who is reflected in the decorations as well.

There are numerous places where you have to take off your shoes before you go in; in fact, it’s the rule rather than the exception. Once inside, you continually encounter little changes in grade – say a ½ inch change as you go from one room to the other. Again we suspect this was to ward off evil spirits, who apparently aren’t all that bright.

It also stopped the little prince and princesses from sliding across the marble floors in their sock feet.