Ayutthaya Photo Gallery - Bang Pa-In Palace

En route from Bangkok, the tour stopped at Bang Pa-In, a summer palace first built in the 17th century just downstream from the historic royal capital. The site was abandoned when Ayutthaya fell and the capital moved to Bangkok but rebuilt in the mid-19th century. What we see today mostly is attributed to King Rama V, who rebuilt it with a mix of European, Thai, and Chinese styles. From the entrance, it's a long walk to the lake where the first buildings are located. In the middle of the lake is the Aisawan Thiphya-art, or "divine seat of personal freedom". The Ho Withun Thasana tower was built for the king to survey the nearby countryside. The Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun Residential Hall was a gift to the king by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1889. I then looped back to the exit, passing by more European-style buildings and beautifully-maintained grounds.