Ayutthaya, Culture, Nature, Sightseeing, Thailand, Travel

[THAILAND] BANG PA IN SUMMER PALACE, AYUTTHAYA - Travel Diary

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After three days spent sightseeing in Bangkok visiting Chinatown, Asiatique, Charoen Krung, Pratunam, and many tourist areas, we visited Ayutthaya, which has become synonymous with temple ruins and historical sites.

During our #FoodInLoveTHAILAND trip, our first stop in Ayutthaya is Bang Pa In Summer Palace, the most famous sight in Ayutthaya. The palace lies beside the Chao Phraya River and located in Bang Pa-In District, about 20 kilometers away from the city of Ayutthaya and 50 km north of Bangkok at the Chao Phraya River.

The large palace complex includes a lake with a small island, gardens and several monuments to the eclectic architecture of the royal residences, a Buddhist temple, a Chinese temple, lookout tower, bridges, and European inspired statues including a replica of the bridge Tiber in Rome. It is this diversity that makes the royal palace of Bang Pa-In unique and different from the other palaces.

Bang Pa In Summer Palace is the place where the royal family in Thailand came every summer or holiday to stay in. Today, this historic palace is only used for state occasions instead of the royal summer residence. It was a very bright, beautiful, and serene complex.

One of the main highlights of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace is the “floating” Asana Pavilion, also known as the “Divine Seat of Personal Freedom”, which sits in the middle of a beautiful pond. It is the only Thai-style building in the palace and it features a statue of Rama V in its front.

Asana Pavillion and Royal Palace

The Palace building

Already from afar, you can see Wat Niwet Thamaprawat, probably the most unusual Buddhist temple, which built under King Chulalongkorn in the style of a Gothic church. In the middle of the complex, stands Uthayan Phumisatian Residential Hall (Garden of the Secured Land), the favorite residence of King Chulalongkorn when he stayed at Bang Pa-In Palace. It’s built in 1877 of wood in style of a two-story Swiss chalet. At the opposite, you’ll find a small cute gingerbread house.

Uthayan Phumisatian Residential Hall
Gingerbread house

Further north, there is the Hor Withun Thasana (The sages lookout), a large colonial-style outlook tower reminding of a lighthouse. It was built in 1881 by King Chulalongkorn for viewing the surrounding from a bird’s-eye view. Adjacent to the outlook tower, you’ll find the Phra Thinang Wehat Chamrun, a two-story Chinese style palace that was all red with many artifacts and historical objects inside. The palace also houses magnificent carvings, reliefs, and paintings.

Hor Withun Thasana (The sages lookout)

Overall, we very much enjoy visiting the palace in this spacious area. The Palace is very unique with buildings in Thai, Chinese and European style The tranquility is very welcome after the hustle of Bangkok. Large meadows and waters convey a place of rest. On the way from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Bang Pa In Summer Palace is a place that you should plan a stop to visit!

Tips:

  1. Dress properly and respectably by covering your shoulders, knees and don’t wear leggings. Otherwise, you will need to rent a sarong with a 200 THB refundable deposit.
  2. Don’t forget to stay hydrated since the palace complex is vast and the heat/humidity can be draining.

Thailand Travel Series:

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Bang Pa In Palace

ถนนปราสาททอง, ตำบลบ้านเลน อำเภอบางปะอิน พระนครศรีอยุธยา, 13160 Thailand

Phone: +66 35-260144

Website: https://www.palaces.thai.net/night/index_bp.htm

Operating Hours:
Everyday (8.30 AM - 4.30 PM)
Last ticket sold at 3.30 PM

Entrance fee: 100 THB

Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

MAP

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