Category: royal history

Musings Over an Old Map of Bangkok

Recently Siamrat came across a large map of Bangkok hanging on the wall of a café. The map was immediately familiar with the old city of Bangkok nestled in the bow of the Chao Phraya River. As I looked for familiar landmarks of the city it was quickly clear that this was not a recent map of the city and I began to wonder what year it belonged to, there being no date printed on it. Then I started to look again, not just for the landmarks that are familiar but for the landmarks that were missing, the map pre-dating them.

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Modern Lao History Through Three Luang Prabang Hotels

Luang Prabang is a hot tourist destination noted for its beautiful temples and French colonial era buildings. But in the last century it was caught up in turbulent events as Laos struggled for its independence amidst the Second World War and then the Indochinese Wars. For visitors with an interest in history three beautiful hotels, each with a connection to former Lao princes, make the perfect backdrop to learn about the modern history of Laos.

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The Bangkok Mandala – The City’s Original Urban Plan

For many visitors to Bangkok the city appears to be wild, chaotic and totally unplanned. Many might be surprised to learn that there even is a City Planning Department. In fact the latest plan to tackle the city's many issues was released in 2020. But the city's first urban plan dates back to the founding of Bangkok in 1782. The founders of Bangkok had a plan that they believed would bring order and harmony to the new capital. Unfortunately this plan was unable to cope with the pressures of the nineteenth century, let alone provide guidance in the twenty-first. This is the story of the Mandala of Bangkok.

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The Origins of Football in Thailand

As in many other countries around the world Thai's love their football. Much time and energy is expended in both playing the game and in passionately following their favourite team whether that be their local league team, the Thai national team or even a team from the English Premier League. But when and how was the English game of football introduced to Thailand?

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Khao Wang – King Mongkut’s Mountain Retreat

Located in Petchaburi province some 120km south of Bangkok, spread across three mountain peaks, is the southern palace retreat of King Mongkut (Rama IV). Officially called Phra Nakhorn Khiri, the "Celestial Mountain-top City" it is more commonly called Wang Khao or "Hill-top Palace".

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What Killed King Chulalongkorn ?

On 23rd October 1910 King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at the age of 57 died. He had reigned over Siam for 42 remarkable years. His death was mourned throughout the nation and was reported around the world. The day is still remembered as an annual holiday in Thailand. But what exactly did he die of ?

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Wang Derm – Bangkok’s Original Palace

Bangkok's Grand Palace is one of the world's most visited tourist attractions with millions of visitors each year. But just across the Chao Phraya River is an older palace which attracts very little attention. Wang Derm or The Original Palace was the palace built in 1767 by King Taksin when he decided to establish Thonburi as the new capital of Siam.

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The Day King Chulalongkorn Met Queen Victoria

In 1897 King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) embarked upon his first grand tour of Europe to meet with the ruling families and heads of state of Europe, meetings which are still widely remembered through popular articles and photographs to this day. But one of the most important meetings seems also to be one of the least remembered, that being his meeting with Queen Victoria.

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