Free Cultural Tours

• Wat Phra Kaeo & The Grand Palace
• Vimanmek Palace

Optional Tour (Expense required)

• Golf Tour (The Royal Golf & Country Club)

1. Wat Phra Kaeo & The Grand Palace

Date: August 27, 2004
Time: 8.30 am. – 12.00 pm.

The Grand Palace has an area of 218,400 sq. metres and is surrounded by walls built in 1782. The length of the four walls is 1,900 metres. Within these walls are situated government offices and the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha besides the royal residences. When Siam restored law and order after the fall of Ayutthaya the monarch lived in Thonburi on the west side of the river. Rama I, on ascending the throne, moved the centre of administration to this side of the Chao Phraya; and, after erecting public monuments such as fortifications and monasteries, built a palace to serve not only as his residence but also his offices--the various ministries, only one of which remains in the palace walls. This palace came to be known as the Grand Palace, in which the earliest edifices contemporary with the foundation of Bangkok were the two groups of residences named the Dusit Maha Prasat and the Phra Maha Monthian.

2. Vimanmek Palace

Date : August 26, 2004
Time : 9.30 am. – 12.00 pm.

Vimanmek Mansion is the largest residence in Dusit Garden . Its elaborate architectural style reflects a western influence. The building has two right-angled wings. Each wing is 60 metres long and 20 metres high. It is a three-storey building except for the part where the King resided, which is octagonal and has four-storeys. The ground floor is brick and cement while the upper floors are built of golden teakwood planks. There are altogether 31 exhibition rooms, some of which maintain the atmosphere of the past, especially the bedrooms, the Audience Chamber and the bathrooms. Some rooms house exhibitions of art works, for example, there is a silverware display room, a ceramic display room, a glassware display room and an ivory display room.

Besides Vimanmek Mansion and the Amporn Satarn Mansion in the compound of Dusit Garden or Dusit Palace (as it was later renamed by King Rama V), King Rama V allocated plots of land for the construction of residences for his Queens, consorts, sisters, daughters, and his other wives. He also named gardens, canals, gates and roads after the names of ancient Chinese porcelain commonly called “Khrueng Kim Tung”, which were very popular at the time. For example, the residence that belonged to Her Majesty Queen Srisawarindhira was named Suan Hong Residence (Swan Garden Residence). Now these residences, which are no longer used by the Royal Family and located north of Vimanmek Mansion , have been turned into museum buildings and a hall for royal coaches to be shown to the general public.

3. Golf Tour (The Royal Golf & Country Club)

Date : August 27, 2004
Time : 12.00 pm. –

The Royal Golf & Country Club is the golf course with 18 holes designed by Japanese architect and located at the 26 km. distance from soi 77 of Sukhumvit road. It takes about one hour by car to reach the course from the city center of Bangkok. Generally the golf course is flat and many holes are arranged with water hazards. It is important for the players to hit accurate shots keeping away from water hazards.

The transportation is provided for free of charge. Other expenses are :