Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, Bangkok

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This is the first stop in our ayutthaya river cruise tour. Just like Manila, Bangkok in March is very hot, so make sure have drinking water, a cap/sunglasses on and put on some sunblock to protect your skin.

I'm not a fan of parks but this one is very pretty, huge and well-maintained.

Bang Pa-In is the Royal Summer Palace and has been a favorite relaxation spot for Thai royalty since the Ayutthaya period in the 1700's. It is one of the most remarkable palace complexes I have ever visited in that its architecture pays homage to some of the great palaces the world over. If you've been to the Schonbrunn or Versailles, see if you can find the buildings borrowed from those styles. Check out the bridge that looks like it was designed after a royal trip to Prague! Of course, I haven't been to enough Asian palaces to identify the influences there, but you'll enjoy the Thai and Chinese architecture as well. Of course, as you travel around on your rented golf cart, you'll have to stop to enjoy the ponds or the topiary elephants, as well as climb the pagoda for a top-notch view. This palace complex is a great excuse to get into the suburbs of Bangkok!

I wish to bear no offense to any Thai's or other who may hold this place with esteem and proud, but I care about the vacations and travels of my fellow VT'ers so I must write this warning. Avoid Band Pain like the plague!!!! Bang Pain is a summer house for royalty, it is a collection of grassy grounds and old buildings decorated with old furniture, unless you're into this kind of thing a trip here will be incredibily painful and boring. The only thrill that I received in touring Bang Pain was driving around the Go Kart which are for rent on the grounds. Pictures are strictly forbidden in some of the buildings, and I even witnessed the authorities of the grounds confiscating a young mans camera because he had it out in the wrong spot, taking his camera and all of his pictures (he was at the end of his trip to Thailand too!) I fell into going to Bang Pain on a guided tour which included Ayutthaya and the whole tour was an absolute disaster and Bang Pain was a major factor in this. There are way to many other things to see then to waste your precious time in Thailand on this! DON'T GO!!!!!!!!!

Located up the Chap Phraya River and built during the reign of King Rama V, the beautiful complex of abodes and gardens was constructed not only as a get-away, but also a place for foreign dignitaries. The most famous building here is called the Aisawan-dhipaya-asana Pavillion. It's also known as the Divine Seat of Personal Freedom. Inside is a bronze statue of his father, Rama IV. He is known in the west as Mongkut.

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Bang Pa-In Royal Palace also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings as a summer dwelling. The palace is located on the Chao Phraya River bank in Bang Pa-In district, Ayutthaya Province

King Prasat Thong originally constructed the complex in 1632, and though it lay empty and overgrown throughout the late 18th and early 19th century, King Mongkut began to restore the site in the mid-1800s. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn.

The facilities include vast gardens and landscaping, Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), a royal residence; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly-painted lookout tower; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond.

The palace remains largely open to visitors, as King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his family use it only rarely for banquets and special occasions.

Quite a well maintained still functioning palace with manicured lawns and trees - There are European inspired dwellings, Thai structures and a Chinese pavillion in one place amidst lakes and gardens.

Built during the fifth reign, and still a functioning palace for the King and foreign dignitaries - there is a strict dress code whilst entering the palace just like Wat Phra Keow.

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This place was absolutely beautiful. It had unbelievable gardens, the lawns and the garden sculptures were great.

It was really interested to see all the different style buildings inside this summer palace in Bangkok.

I definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Bangkok, since its only about 45 minutes away.

If your on a tour, definitely pay the 400bht or USD12.00 to rent the go-cart, it saves time to see it all.

We used Sea Tour Thailand for this. They were awesome. It was arranged for us but they even picked us up at the airport and brought us back too. They handle a lot of things, including business trips

See the pictures for more info.

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Bang Pa In summer palace complex was formerly used by the Thai kings as a summer dwelling. The palace is located on the Chao Phraya River bank in Bang Pa-In district, Ayutthaya Province.
The facilities in the palace includes vast gardens and landscaping, Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), a royal residence; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly-painted lookout tower; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond.
King Prasat Thong originally constructed the complex in 1632 and it was renovated by the well known King MONGKUT (of the King and I fame) in the 1800's. Hence it became well known for foreigners because of Englishwoman Teacher ANNA Leonowens, who stayed in the palace.

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.