Phya Thai Palace
Encyclopedia
Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...
district of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. King Rama V bestowed on it the royal name of the Royal Residence of the Phya Thai ( Phra Tamnak Phaya Thai) or the Phya Thai Palace, with Phya Thai ( Phaya Thai) meaning Lord of the Thais, during his reign and so it was built with this bearing on design.
History
The construction of Phya Thai Palace began in 1909. It was built at Rama V's behest so that he might stay there and look out over the farms, plantations and livestock in the area. The palace grounds included those areas directly opposite the palace. He also had a complex included in the compound where the Royal Ploughing CeremonyRoyal Ploughing Ceremony
The Royal Plowing Ceremony is an ancient royal rite held in Cambodia and Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season...
might take place, since used on many occasions.
The Phya Thai Palace was only used by King Rama V for a short time as he died several months after the crowning of the new king.
During the reign of King Rama VI, Queen Saovabha
Saovabha
Queen Saovabha Bongsri was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok...
, then Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
, was invited to live there, which she did until her death in 1920. Rama VI then had the entire palace grounds demolished, leaving only the Devaraja Sabharamaya Hall ( Phra Thinang Thewarat Sapharom) and Throne Hall, and ordered that the many new palace halls be built together to form a new Royal Phya Thai Palace.
King Rama VI then lived at the palace until the later years of his reign, when he moved to stay at the Chakraput Piman Hall ( Phra Thinang Chakkraphat Phiman) of the Grand Palace until his death.
King Rama VII ordered the palace be converted into an international hotel, an enterprise which ended five years later. The Phya Thai Palace then became the location of the first Thai radio broadcast station. Later, after a change of government the palace became a clinic for the Royal Thai Army and has since changed its name to the Phramongkutklao Hospital ( Rong Phayaban Phra Mongkut Klao).
Miscellaneous
The palace was featured in the famous The Amazing Race 14The Amazing Race 14
The Amazing Race 14 is the fourteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 14 featured 11 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
as the 8th and last non-elimination pit-stop.