Photos

The Bang Pa-In (Summer) Palace is near the old capitol of Ayuttya about 60km north of Bangkok. Although royal residencies from the island are known from at least the 1632, the present-day royal palace dates from the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), when most of the buildings standing today were constructed between 1872-1889.

Today the palace is used occasionally by Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit as a residence and for holding receptions and banquets.

The main building in this scene is the Phra Thinang Aisawan Thiphya-Art, a Thai-style pavilion with four porches and a spired roof built by King Chulalongkorn in the middle of an outer pond in 1876. It is a copy of the Phra Thinang Aphonphimok Prasat in the Grand Palace, which was built by his father, King Mongkut, as a pavilion for changing regalia before mounting a palanquin. King Chulalongkorn named this building Aisawan Thiphya-Art after King Prasat Tong's original pavilion. This pavilion now houses a bronze statue of King Chulalongkorn in the uniform of a Field Marshal which was placed by his son King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). The smaller building on the left is known as Gra Jom Tae, but I could not find any information on its significance.

Reference: The Bang Pa-In website