Years ago, I was introduced to Bangkok's Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and other buildings of significance during a Night Tour of Bangkok (see post). The Italian Renaissance building all lit at night sure left an impression on me -- to the point I was eager to join CC and Allison to see what the inside looked like when given the opportunity last weekend.
Despite the ridiculous security measures we endured to even get to the building, the interior was absolutely stunning when we were finally able to enter. It was definitely worth the effort!
Taking pictures was not allowed inside the Throne Hall, so I need to depend on the Internet for whatever images I can find...
According to my sources, Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is translated as "The place of immense gathering" that continues to serve as a royal reception hall within the king's Dusit Palace grounds in Bangkok. It was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1908 with his statue in the Royal Plaza in front of the Hall. The building was completed in 1915, five years after Rama V's death in 1910 and is now employed from time to time for various state occasions as depicted in this famous photo of APEC leaders in 2003 who gathered in Bangkok.
I learned that during the four days of the 1932 Revolution, the People's Party used the Throne Hall as its headquarters and to imprison several princes and royal ministers as hostages as it carried out its coup. The events transformed the country's political system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. After the revolution, the building was taken over by the constitutional government and the country's first parliament, and served as the seat of the Parliament of Thailand until 1974.
The building is composed of one main central dome with six domes that surround it. The northern dome exhibits the picture of King Rama I leading his armies back to Thailand after defeating the Khmer and later crowned as the first king of the Chakri dynasty. The eastern dome shows the contribution of King Rama II and King Rama III to arts by ordering construction of the royal temples. The southern dome displays King Rama V's abolition of slavery. Pictures of King Rama IV (King Mongkut) surrounded by priests of various faiths are shown on the western dome, depicting the king's advocacy of all religions.
Here are images of various royal thrones and the throne room...
The Throne Hall also serves as a museum that houses the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition, showcasing handicrafts of various medium (gold, wood, silk, beetle wings, jewels, etc), depicting Thai life and organized under the sponsorship of the Queen.
If you have some time and want a more-detailed account of the interior, then select to play this video. Needless to say, the Throne Hall is an amazing building depicting Thai royalty and art throughout the dynasties.
