Sanam Chandra Palace – Visit the royal residences of King Rama VI

Experience French Renaissance Architecture in Thailand

Admission Price: 50 Baht per person

Where in Thailand can you find a castle with French Renaissance architecture? The answer lies at Sanam Chandra Palace, whose residences were built more than one hundred years ago. These buildings remain one of Thailand’s often overlooked treasures. Moreover, many visitors are surprised to learn about the western influence during Thailand’s early modern period.

Customer feedback – “Definitely worth a visit. My private tour guide gave me a lot of great insight as to how King Rama VI lived. Sanam Chandra Palace is a great place to visit to learn more about Thai history and culture.”

King Rama VI’s Royal Retreat

Built in 1907 in the small town of Nakhon Pathom, Sanam Chandra Palace sits in a beautiful park. The grounds feature giant trees, perfectly kept lawns, and natural lakes. Crown Prince Vajiravudh chose this beautiful setting because he would later become King Rama VI (1910 – 1925). Furthermore, King Rama VI is best known for promoting the ideas of “Thainess” and Thai nationalism.

Because the Crown Prince visited the Nakhon Pathom pagoda often, he decided to build residences nearby. Therefore, these buildings would serve his personal needs during visits. The Sanam Chandra Palace residences used a mix of French, English, and Southeast Asian building styles. Additionally, they were designed to perfectly match the area’s beautiful natural surroundings.

Five Remarkable Royal Buildings

The royal residences took nine years to complete and served as King Rama VI’s official palace on several occasions. Today, visitors can explore five main residence buildings:

Chaleemongkolasana Residence stands as a French Renaissance style castle. Consequently, it ranks as one of the most photographed royal residences in Thailand.

Bhimarn Prathom Residence was the first house built at this location. It mixes Thai and European building styles in a unique way.

Samakkeemukamartaya Hall is a very large classic Thai style building. Moreover, it includes a meeting room for the royal ‘Wild Tigers Corp’ military unit.

Mareerajaratabulung Residence consists of a pair of traditional Thai teakwood houses that showcase classic craftsmanship.

Thub Kwan Residence features a pair of traditional Thai houses made of golden teakwood and painted dark red.

Beautiful Palace Grounds and Modern Access

In 2003, the complex received full restoration and opened to the general public. The entire area covers 335 acres and features five remarkable buildings of French, English, and typical Thai construction. Furthermore, the palace grounds are remarkably beautiful.

Many visitors enjoy short walks across manicured lawns or a comfortable lakeside rest under century-old trees. Therefore, the natural setting adds to the palace’s appeal beyond just the historic buildings.

Customer feedback – “Nice atmosphere and beautiful grounds. Each one of the palaces of the king has its own story. The buildings are kept in really good condition.”

Practical Visitor Information

Sanam Chandra Palace opens Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. However, it closes on Mondays. The reasonable admission price makes this historic site accessible to most visitors interested in Thailand’s royal history and unique architecture.