Feeling like a royal at Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

The Bang Pa-In Palace is located 30 kilometers south of Ayutthaya and is located on a small island called Bang Pa-In in the Chao Phraya River. Also known as the summer palace – it is a complex formerly used by the Thai kings.

Tour Fee:                    750 Baht (600 Baht for Ayutthaya + 150 Baht for Bang Pa-In)

Duration:                     Full Day Tour

Attraction & Sites:       Wat Phu Khao Thong, Wat Lokaya Suttha, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol,                                   Wat Mahathat and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace.

After 6 hours of tour around the temples and temple ruins around Ayutthaya, we then went to Bang Pa-In Palace. This is the last stop for the tour I purchased at Canary Travel and Tours for 750 Baht.

Bang Pa-In Palace is open to the public daily from 8.00 am until 4.00 pm. Tourists enter through the South Gate where there is a shop at which you can purchase guide booklets and I strongly recommend you acquire these first so as to greatly enhance your understanding and visit experience.

We arrived at Bang Pa-In Summer Palace at around 2:30 in the afternoon. There are two ways to get around the palace grounds: by foot, or by golf cart.  I opted to walk since I do not have a companion to share the price for the golf cart rental. The palace complex was constructed in the 17th century, though many of the present buildings were built in the 19th century.

The Palace is a collection of different styles of colorful buildings set in a landscape and water setting. The mansions reflect Chinese, Swiss, Khmer, Thai and general European styles of architecture. As with other Thai Royal palaces this compound is divided into two sections, the Inner Palace and the Outer Palace.

Inner Palace

The major attraction in the Inner Court includes Heavenly Light (Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun), Sages' Lookout (Ho Withun Thasana), Garden of the Secured Land (Phra Tinang Uthayan Phumisathian ) and the various houses and mansions for members of the Inner Court.

Outer Palace

The outer court’s attractions include King Prasat Thong Shrine (Ho Hem Monthian), Exhibition Hall (Saphakhan Ratchaprayun), Divine Seat of Personal Freedom (Phra Thinang Aisawan Thiphya-art), Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode (Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman) and other structures as well.

King Prasat Thong Shrine

I started the tour with the King Prasat Thong Shrine. It is a small stone structure in the form of a Kmer-style prasat (residence of king or god with a corncub-shaped structure). It is located under the Bodhi tree beside the pond near the south entrance of the Palace complex.

Exhibition Hall

Across the shrine is where the Exhibition Hall can be found. It is a colonial-style two-story assembly hall for the royal relatives.

Divine Seat of Personal Freedom

I then continued my tour and went to the Divine Seat of Personal Freedom. It is a Thai-style pavilion with four porches and a spired roof. It houses the bronze statue of King Chulalongkom. The reflection of the pavilion on the water of the pond is photogenic and interesting to look at.

Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode

Near the pavilion is the Royal Residence of Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode. It is a neoclassic-style one-story mansion. Upon entering the mansion, I was amazed by the audience chambers and anterooms that are decorated with oil paintings. Unfortunately cameras are not allowed inside the mansion. So I guess you have to go there to experience the grandeur of the mansion. It feels like I was in the setting of Princess Hours (another Korean drama series) where everything you see is expensive and sophisticated.

Garden of the Secured Land

Moving on to Inner Court, I was greeted by the Garden of the Secured Land. It is a Swiss-style two-story mansion painted in two tones of green. Sadly though I was not able to enter the mansion since it was under renovation at the time of my visit.

Sages' Lookout Tower

I then moved on to the Sages’ Lookout. It is an observatory that serves as a lookout tower for viewing the surrounding countryside. It is a dodecahedral three storey tower about 30 meters high. There are 112 internal steps to the top beneath the crescent roof. The building is colored red and yellow and is a mix of European styles.

Royal Residence of Heavenly Light

Near the lookout tower is where the Royal Residence of Heavenly Light is located. It is a Chinese-style two-story mansion. Before entering the mansion, visitors are required to take off their slippers/shoes. The decorations inside are gold, silver and porcelain.

I finished my tour of the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace by appreciating the beautiful landscape around the complex. The flowers are in bloom, animal topiaries scattered around, the fountains, benches and various small pavilions are ornamented with colorful designs. The extra 150 Baht for this tour was really all worth it, a truly must visit palace outside Bangkok!

View from the 2nd floor of the Sages' Lookout Tower!

Go back to Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand!