King
Prasat Thong constructed the original complex[1]: 211 in 1632, but it fell into disuse and became overgrown in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, until King
Mongkut began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King
Chulalongkorn.[2]
Buildings
Amidst vast gardens and landscaping stand the following buildings: Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), a royal residence; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly painted lookout tower; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond and
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a royal temple of the palace.[3]
The palace remains largely open to visitors.
Ho Withun Thasana, or Sages' Lookout
Wehart Chamrunt, or Heavenly Light
Aisawanthipphaya-At Pavilion from the bridge
Warophat Phiman
Sabakran Rajaprayoon Residential Hall
Uthayan Phumisathian Residential Hall
Milestones
On 31 May 1880, King Chulalongkorn had a royal command to arrange a royal barge procession to go to Bang Pa-in Palace with every wife but because he was not able to follow a scheduled timing, he asked for a royal entourage to head to the palace first. While on the journey, the ship of Queen
Sunanda Kumariratana suffered an accident causing her and their daughter Princess
Kannabhorn Bejaratana to drown. After the accident, King Chulalongkorn ordered to build a marble monument at Bang Pa-In Palace in remembrance of the Queen and Princess.[4]
The royal funeral ceremony of the Princess
Srivilailaksana was located in the Aisawanthipphaya Pavilion. The cremation ceremony was at Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, which is widely known to be a scared place and artwork, until it is well known among the royal servants that anyone who does not attend a royal event in the Aisawanthipphaya Pavilion is considered to be an outsider to the royal society.
King Rama VI graciously performed the royal wedding of Prince
Prajadhipok and Princess
Rambai Barni on 26 August 1918 at the Warophat Phiman throne hall, which is widely considered the first royal wedding ceremony after enacting the royal rule on the marriage of the master of the royal family. It is said that the gift of the wedding ceremony was a diamond ring.