On my 3rd day in Bangkok, I followed a day tour to the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and Ayutthaya, along with my younger sister. I took up the package offered by A&F Tour, which costed me 1600 Baht per person. My sister commented that the tour was boring, which I don't blame her because she's not really the type who would like to see ruins and historical architectures. As for me, I'd say the second half day of the tour was a waste of time!

You see, we practically had to cover the Bang Pa-In palace and 3 places in Ayutthaya in the mornings. That was like 3-4 hours trying to cover four interesting places. After which, it was lunch and cruise on board a boat along the Chao Praya river! All the way up to 4 pm, which I think would have been much better spent touring the other places in Ayutthaya.

Well, so much for ranting. Back to the palace.

The Bang Pa-In summer palace, like its name implies, was a palace that the Thai kings dwell in during summer. Originally built by King Prasat Thong dating way back in 1632, it was restored by King Mongkut in the 1800s. And the palace as it stands today is largely contributed to the works of King Chulalongkorn.



The palace ground itself is quite wide and huge, and 1 hour is definitely not enough to cover it all! You can find the map of the palace online, here and here. I made some quick dashes here and there, moving randomly between one hall to another. My greatest regret is not making it INTO the residences and halls itself to experience how was it like being inside the halls/homes of a royalty.

The Gra-Jom Tae on the right, overlooking the Phra Thinang Aisawan Thiphya Art.

Ho Hem Monthian Thewarat

Featuring architectures of European, Chinese, Thai (and what other more, I have no idea) design and style, some of the residence halls are simply magnificent even from the outside. I cannot imagine how lavish it could be inside!

Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman

Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian

The Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisthian (above pic) and the Wehart Chamrun (Heavenly Light) (below) are two of the halls in the palace grounds which I particularly find beautiful and amusing! I really wished I had the time to make it into the Wehart Chamrun. And had walked in and up the Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), and absorb the view of the palace grounds from a higher viewpoint.

Wehart Chamrun

Ho Withun Thasana

Royal Floating House

Tevaraj-Kanlai Gate

Oh, there are also some interesting "animals" you'll see in there. I wonder if it was the zoo back in its glorious days :) Why not?! Michael Jackson even has his own mini zoo, ok!

Rabbits by the pond.

Elephants on the prowl!

There are a few restrictions when you visit the Summer Palace. As you enter the palace grounds, no spaggy-strap tops and short skirts and mini-shorts are allowed. However, you can get a shirt or a wraparound skirt for a deposit of 100 Baht (each, I think) which you'll get back upon return of the items you borrowed. My sister, who went with super mini shorts, ended up having to "rent" their wraparound skirt (see her in Royal Floating House pic above). She kept complaining throughout the walk that it was ugly, and not to take pictures of her in it *LOL*

No photography are allowed INSIDE the halls. You are only allowed photography outside. Shoes must be taken off before stepping into the halls. And for some of the halls, all ladies will need to cover themselves from the waist down with wraparound skirts provided (I think no fees are charged for this, but I'm not sure!).



This probably sums up my experience at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. Interesting architectures, with a mix of Western and Eastern touch. I kept repeating this, and I'm going to say it again ... if given more time I would have really enjoyed more, exploring the place and halls from the outside and inside.

For more pics and larger resolutions, go to my gallery here.

Coming up next ...... Ayutthaya!

Labels: travel