A Temple by the Chao Phraya and the Dusit Palace Grounds

I again took a long walk around our vicinity, mainly the Dusit Palace grounds. But before going to the palace grounds, I passed by a temple complex about a couple of blocks from my building. It sits along the bank of the Chao Phraya River and is obviously quite old compared to the other temples I've visited lately. There I found these lion-looking things that surround a stupa - a dome-shaped monument used to house Buddhist relics or to commemorate significant facts of Buddhism. Venturing farther to the riverside, I saw these long boats (the purpose of which I have yet to find out) bobbing in the water.



A block away is the Dusit Palace complex, which is composed of the Vimanmek Mansion and the Royal Residential Halls. The Vimanmek Masion, built in 1900, is touted as the world's largest golden teakwood mansion, with an elaborate architectural style of Western influence. I stayed outside the mansion coz going in means paying a hefty 100 baht (150 pesos). I'd go back there when I have more money though. However, wandering around the complex, I found my self going inside the mansion grounds where I took photos of these houses on stilts (photo below). Apparently this was off limits to visitors; I had to be escorted out by a guard, much to my embarrassment. I believe I did not see the sign saying it was off limits, especially if it was written in Thai.


Walking farther, I passed by the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall (photo below), which was completed in 1903. The building features floral designs, colored glass, and stucco motifs. It had been restored as an exhibition hall, displaying arts and crafts, which I did not see coz I could not buy the bleeding ticket.


The highlight of my excursion was entering the Ananda Samakhon Throne Hall, which I posted about previously (and as I stated in that post, it was indeed used as the house of parliament but not at present anymore). I only got a picture of its exterior (the rear side this time) coz doing so is not allowed after one enters the gate. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned the construction of the building, using Italian Renaissance and Neo Classical styles. The exterior is decorated with marble from Carrara, Italy. It was completed in 1915.

Visitors who enter the building (ticket is only 50 baht) are required to remove their shoes. I also had to leave my camera and cellphone, and take off my cap. Since I was wearing my tattered jeans with holes in the knees, I was asked to wear a sarong, which is only required from women. Anyway, the sarong was purple so I did not mind.

The building totally struck me with its marble walls and wall reliefs gilded with gold. The high ceilings direct one's eyes to several domes that depict the legacies of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty (the current dynasty). The interior pretty much transported me to some Italian castle or something because the Thai touches are kept to the ceilings, but the general style is mainly Western. The building's enthralling details can actually cause neck pains.