Dusit Palace

The palace covers an area of over 64,749 square metres (696,950 sq ft) and is dotted between gardens and lawns with 13 different royal residences.

Since 1782 and the foundation of Bangkok as the capital city of the Kingdom of Siam, the monarchs of the Chakri dynasty have resided at the Grand Palace by the Chao Phraya River.

The palace became the focal point of the city as well as a seat of the royal government and the home of the king and his court (his children and his polygamous household).

The king, who enjoyed taking long walks for exercise and pleasure, often felt unwell after prolonged stays inside the Grand Palace.

In 1890s, plans for a permanent set of residences were drawn up and construction began under the supervision of Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs (the king's brother) and C. Sandreczki (a German architect, responsible for the Boromphiman Palace).

When it became clear that Chulalongkorn preferred to stay in the garden, with only occasional visits to the Grand Palace for state and royal ceremonies, the name was changed to Wang Dusit meaning 'celestial dwelling'.

The construction of both Dusit Palace and Ratchadamnoen Avenue allowed and encouraged the expansion of Bangkok outside its city walls and the traditional confines of the Rattanakosin area.

This included the Khao Din Wana (เขาดินวนา) to the east of the palace, which was given in 1938 to the Bangkok City Municipality by King Ananda Mahidol to create a public park, which later became Dusit Zoo.

When King Bhumibol Adulyadej returned from his studies to Thailand in 1952 he made the Chitralada Royal Villa his main residence and had it renovated.

The king granted a plot of land on Dusit Palace grounds immediately north of the Throne Hall for the building of a new Parliament House of Thailand.

The gardens are connected by gates with names drawn from motifs on blue and white Chinese porcelain ware, which the king picked out himself.

Aerial view of Dusit Palace, in the southern part of Dusit District , Bangkok
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) found the Grand Palace too overcrowded and unhealthy, as a result he began construction on a new palace, which eventually became Dusit Palace.
The Vimanmek Mansion , built in 1900, is entirely made of teak. It was built in Ko Sichang , Chonburi Province , but was dismantled on the orders of the king and reconstructed at Dusit Palace in 1901.
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall was built in 1904 as an audience hall and entertainment venue for the Dusit Palace complex.
The north façade of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall , built in 1908 as an audience hall for the palace.
The moat of the Chitralada Royal Villa . The villa was built in 1913 and was incorporated as part of Dusit Palace in 1925. It was the primary residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit .
Royal Plaza at Dusit Palace
Royal Standard of Thailand at Dusit Palace in 2017
Map of Dusit Palace. With dates of demolition.
Map of Dusit Palace. Dark green marks the current area of the palace; light green marks the historical area.