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Discover Thailand's Royal Legacy at the Majestic Suan Pakkad Palace

A former royal residence, the majestic Suan Pakkad Palace was originally built by Major General Prince Chumbhot Bongse Paribatra in the beginning of the 1950's as a collective enclave of ancient and newly built Thai houses. Now almost fifty years later, this sprawling royal mansion compound is a veritable museum that attracts locals and foreigners with its impressive antiques, fine art collections and conventional architectural beauty.

Located on Sri Ayudhya Road in the Thai capital, the Palace encompasses eight traditional Thai houses which include several that were brought from their original location in Chiang Mai and reassembled at the current venue. While some of the houses have been left in their original condition, others have been converted into exhibition spaces to showcase the wealth of artefacts and antiquities that are part and parcel of this royal household. Must-see points of interest within the Suan Pakkad Palace include the Ban Chieng artefacts which document the 4000 year old heritage of the Ban Chieng communities. Complete with bronze jewellery, axes, spearheads and painted pottery guests will also find glass beads, Benjarong pottery, priceless bracelets, shells, minerals, rocks and cord-marked pottery items in this special exhibit.

At the far southern end of the lawn lies the Lacquer Pavilion which is also another frequented highlight within the palace complex. Transported from its original location in Ayudhya the pavilion is believed to have been constructed in the 17th century and was used to store scriptures in its heyday. An exquisite example of Thai art and architecture, the pavilion houses a room within a room with a narrow corridor completely surrounding the inner chamber. The interior of the inner chamber is decked in black and gold lacquer while the corridors feature stunning gilded carvings.

The Marsi Gallery is also worth exploration. Meanwhile the first house features Prince Paribatra's extensive musical instrument collection which includes a Gong Wong Yai, three-stringed fiddles, gongs, drums and xylophones. The second and third houses contain 17th century household items such as mother of pearl trays, fine silverware, and a replica of the Thai throne while the fifth and eighth houses display an impressive collection of clay figurines, puppets and masks.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/discover-thailands-royal-legacy-at-the-majestic-suan-pakkad-palace-3496150.html

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

How to get there : Bus routes 14, 17, 38, 77, 29, 39, 36
BTS Skytrain : Phaya Thai BTS station.
Open : Daily from 9 am. - 4 pm.
Admission : 100 baht
Tel : +66 2245 4934, +66 2246 1775-6
Website : www.suanpakkad.com
Nearby places/attractions: Pratunam Shopping area, Siam Square Area , BTS Phaya Thai Station

Traditional Thai Architecture & Antiquities at the Suan Pakkad Palace

Once the home of Princess Chumphot, the Suan Pakkad Palace is situated on Si Ayutthaya Road, near the Phayathai intersection. Princess Chumbhot was one of the prominent art collectors in Thailand. Here, there are five traditionally built Thai houses that oversee a well maintained beautiful park, and display a huge collection of Thai antiquities.

These houses were first constructed in 1952 by Prince and Princess Chumphot of Nagor Svarga. Some of the exhibits are from the ancestors of Prince Chumphot and are over a few centuries ancient. The Lacquer pavilion is located on the southern end of the park, while the Ban-Chiang and Marsi galleries are on the Chumphot Pantip collection of pre-historic items.

Formerly, the Lacquer pavilion was located in the Ban Kling temple, and dates to the seventeenth century. It was shifted by Prince Chumphot after obtaining a formal approval from the abbot.

The exterior is sculptured beautifully in wood, while the interior walls are made with gold over black lacquer. There are various drawings and paintings inside that display the different events related to Lord Buddha, and also from the Hindu classic Ramayana. There are also many pictures that give an idea about the contemporary Thai life in those times, and some show the early foreign travelers to Ayudha. This is a unique part of the collection making the Suan Pakkad Palace exclusive among all others in Thailand.

The famous Marsi Gallery is situated on the second floor of the Chumphot Pantin center for arts. The gallery derives its name from Marsi Paribatra, the daughter of Prince and Princess Chumphot of Nagor Svarga. It was originally created with the purpose of furtherance of art activities and for holding exhibits for artists throughout the year.

The park surrounding the Suan Pakkad Palace is exquisitely beautiful with colorful flower beds, and the Baiyoke tower can be clearly seen from the garden; this is the tallest structure in Thailand. The Suan Pakkad Palace can be visited on most days and is easily accessible from Sukhumvit, Bangkok.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/antiques-articles/traditional-thai-architecture-antiquities-at-the-suan-pakkad-palace-583862.html

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