Upon his return from Europe in 1897, King Rama V (1868-1910)
used his personal money to purchase orchards and paddy fields
between Padung Krungkasem Canal and Samsen Canal for the
construction of a royal garden which he named "The Dusit
Garden".
The first permanent residence in the Dusit Garden was Vimanmek
Mansion, built In 1900 by royal command of king Rama V. The King
had the Munthaturattanaroj Residence in Chuthathujrachathan at
Koh Sri Chang, Chonburi, dismantled and rebuilt in the Dusit
Garden under the supervision of HRH Prince
Narissaranuwaddhiwongse. The celebration for the completion of
Vimanmek Mansion was held on March 27,1901. King Rama V then
moved his residence from the Grand Palace to stay permanently at
Vimanmek Mansion for five years until the completion of Amporn
Satarn Residence in 1906 where he lived until his death in 1910,
Vimanmek Mansion was then closed down and members of the royal
family moved back to the Grand Palace.
Near the end of his reign, King Rama VI (1910-1925) gave permission
to Her Majesty Indharasaksaji to stay at Vimanmek Mansion. After
the King's death, she moved to stay another residence in Suan
Hong compound north of Vimanmek Mansion and the Mansion was
closed.
 King Rama VII (1925-1934) renovated the Mansion several
times. For example, he ordered the installation of new
electrical wires and the repair of columns of the main pier at
the artificial lake In the garden. But starting in 1932, Vimanmek Mansion was used only as a storage place of the Bureau
of the Royal Household.
In 1982, on the auspicious occasion of the
Bicentennial Anniversary of Bangkok, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit,
who had discovered that Vimanmek Mansion, with its elaborate
architectural style was still intact, asked permission of His
Majesty King Rama IX to renovate the Mansion for use as a museum
to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his photographs,
personal art and handicrafts, and to serve as a showcase of the
Thai national heritage for future generations.
  
Vimanmek Mansion is the world's
largest golden teakwood mansion with its elaborate architectural
style reflecting a western influence. The building has two
right-angled wings, each wing 60 meters long and meters high,
and is three-storied except for the part where King Rama V
resided, which is octagonal and four-storied. Although the
ground floor is brick and cement, the upper floors are built of
beautiful golden teakwood. Altogether there are 31 exhibition
rooms, with the bedrooms, the throne room and the bathrooms
maintaining the atmosphere of the Thai past. Some display rooms
house exhibitions of Thai art including silverware, ceramics,
crystal ware, and ivory.
Besides Vimanmek Mansion and Amporn Salam Residence 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 consort, princesses, and
Other wives. He also named gardens, canals, gates and roads
after ancient Chinese ceramics (commonly called "Khrueng Kirn
Tung"), which were very popular at the lime. Thus, the residence
that belonged to HRH Srisawarindhira was named Suan Hong
Residence (Swan Garden Residence), These residences located
north of Vimanmek Mansion have been turned into museum buildings
and a hall for royal coaches on show to the public.
  
 Museum
Hours : 09.30 a.m.-3.15 p.m. every day, including weekends and
public holidays.
Traditional Thai dancing : Two
shows daily at 10.30 a.m. and at 2.00 p.m.
Proper attire Is required.
Location : Rajavithi Road, Dusit,
Bangkok 10300
Telephone: 628-6300-9
Admission fee:
Adults 50 Baht, Students, monks, nuns 20 Baht
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1 - Vimanmek Mansion Museum
2 - Support Museum Abhisek Dusit Throen Hall
3 - Ticket Room
4 - The Stage
5 - Souvenir Shop and refreshments
6 - H.M King Bhumipol's photographic Museum II
7 - H.M King Bhumipol's photographic Museum I
8 - Information
9 - Old Clock Museum
10 - Office
11 - Slide Multitision Hall
12 - Ancient Cloth and Silk
13 - Food Shop
14 - Office 2
15 - Pharaphernalias of Rank and Portraits Museum
16 - Royal Carriage 1,2,3
17 - Royal Ceremonial Photographic Museum
18 - Suan Si Ruedo Residential Hall Museum
19 - Suan Bua Residential Hall Museum |
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